AIDS Walk draws 25,000 participants, raises $3.5 million – San Francisco

Wire reports,
 July 20, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO — Up to 25,000 people participated in the San Francisco AIDS Foundation AIDS Walk in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, raising $3.5 million to combat the disease, a foundation spokeswoman said today. 



Although the fundraiser, now in its 23rd year, fell short of last year's $4.4 million raised, San Francisco AIDS Foundation spokeswoman Debra Holtz said a drop was to be expected given the struggling economy.

"Every fundraising event is seeing a fairly large reduction. I don't think that's surprising," Holtz said. "What we're really about happy is that so many people participated despite the recession."



The fundraiser has raised more than $74 million for the foundation and other Bay Area HIV and AIDS service organizations since 1987.



Proceeds will go toward HIV testing, substance abuse counseling, syringe-exchange programs, and public policy work, Holtz said. Read more San Francisco Examiner