April 19, 2021 – Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ sole national charitable organization, is teaming-up with NY NOW and DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) for AIDS Walk New York 2021. The 2021 event, which will be held virtually due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns on Sunday, May 16, will feature live, televised, intimate in-person viewing-parties from Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain and Golden Gate Park’s National AIDS Memorial Grove.
“2021 marks our tenth year participating in this worthy event, and over the last decade, we have raised more than $225,000 for GMHC,” said Su Hilty, Gift for Life/ NY NOW/ DIFFA team co-captain and honorary GFL Board member. “With the help of my co-captain, Caroline Kennedy, and the entire Gift for Life/ NY NOW/ DIFFA team, we hope to meet and surpass the $27,000 fundraising goal that we have set this year!”
Individual members of the Gift for Life/NY NOW/DIFFA team will step up and step-out on their own to raise funds for GMHC between now and May 16. In the spirit of AIDS Walk New York’s original concept, team members who commit to #WalkItOut will set individual goals to stroll, jog, sprint or step-out in their own way for the cause.
“NY NOW is, once again, pleased to partner with Gift for Life and DIFFA to participate in AIDS Walk NY,” said Tim Hart, SVP of NY NOW. “HIV/AIDS has had a profound effect on our industry and our city and is always a cause close to the heart of the NY NOW team. We are proud of the work we have done with Gift for Life and DIFFA since 1992 and look forward to continuing to raise awareness and funds as a team.”
Now in its 36th year, AIDS Walk New York has inspired nearly 890,000 people to walk and millions more to donate, raising nearly $155 million to combat HIV and AIDS. The funds raised at the event remain a vital lifeline sustaining the prevention, care, and advocacy programs – GMHC provides for the thousands of individuals affected by the disease in the tri-state area. The proceeds also benefit dozens of other HIV/AIDS service organizations that are able to participate as teams and raise funds through the Community Partnership Program (CPP). For more information, visit ny.aidswalk.net/Who-Benefits.
To join the Gift for Life/NY NOW/DIFFA team and fundraise, or to donate, visit https://ny.aidswalk.net/GFLNYNOWDIFFA, or contact team co-captains, Su Hilty, at HiltyBrady@aol.com, or Caroline Kennedy at kebbiekcaroline@gmail.com.
ABOUT GIFT FOR LIFE and DIFFA
Gift for Life unites the gift and home industries against AIDS with nearly $6 million raised since its inception in 1992. In 2008, Gift for Life selected DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S., as its sole charity partner. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the immense resources of the design communities to provide more than $43 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide. More information is available at www.giftforlife.org and www.diffa.org.
ABOUT NY NOW
NY NOW, is the modern wholesale Market for retailers and specialty buyers seeking diversity and discovery. Gathering twice a year in America’s design capital, New York City, and building community year-round through its 365 Digital Market, it’s where buyers and designers unearth a refreshed and dedicated collection of eclectic lifestyle products. NY NOW features ten comprehensive sections –Accent on Design, Accessories, Artisan Resource, Baby + Child, Gift + Stationery, Handmade Designer Maker, Handmade Global Design, Home Design + Tabletop, Luxury Lifestyle, Wellness– that encompass tens of thousands of products in hundreds of product categories and now offers a 365 platform for discovery of new products, brands + makers, lead generation, education, and community networking with the NY NOW Digital Market. www.nynow.com
ABOUT AIDS Walk New York and GMHC
AIDS Walk New York is the largest single-day AIDS fundraising event in the world. In its over 30 years, the event has inspired nearly 890,000 people to walk and millions more to donate, raising nearly $155 million to combat HIV and AIDS. The funds raised at the event benefit GMHC, a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported, and community-based organization which provides prevention and care services to individuals living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City. GMHC advocates for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide. For information, visit https://ny.aidswalk.net/ and gmhc.org.
