On Board with Gift for Life sets off May 21 AIDS Walk New York

Gift for Life, the gift and home decor industries’ sole national charitable organization, and NY NOW are once again fielding a team for AIDS Walk New York, an annual 10K walk raising funds for GMHC NY NOW has pledged, once again, to match the first $8,000 in donations for the 2023 edition, which will be held on May 21 in New York’s Central Park “

This year marks a change in team leadership for this wonderful life-giving event,” said Caroline Kennedy, Gif t For Life/NY NOW team co-captain “Kelly Bristol joins me as an enthusiastic co-captain Together, we will continue the strong traditions of fundraising set by our captain emeritus, Su Hilty, who has retired af ter 10 years of leadership and inspiration

“For 2023, the team has set an ambitious fundraising goal of $40,000 – and with the industr y ’ s support, we can do it!”

“ The energ y of last year ’ s AI DS Walk Ne w York was exhilarating,” Bristol said “ We are excited to join the many other teams again this May for our walk in Central Park We are also thrilled to have NY NOW as our partner once again and are delighted that our fundraising efforts are kickstarted with its generous $8,000 matching pledge ”

“ The whole NY NOW team is thrilled to partner with Gif t for Life to support the fundraising efforts of AIDS

Walk New York 2023,” said Alana Branston, NY NOW ’ s group vice president of gif t & home and Gif t for Life board member “It ’ s been ver y meaningful for me to join the board of one of our most valued partners, and I couldn’t be happier to help raise awareness and funds for such an important cause

“In partnership with Gif t for Life, we hope to continue in our mission to support charities on both the national and local level in need of support ”

The 2023 event will have a special fundraising connection to Hilty, who is battling PSP-progressive supra nuc lear palsy, a degenerative disease In recognition of her 10+ years of support for AIDS Walk – both as a participant and team cocaptain – Hilt y recently was presented with the Gif t for Life’s Bert Tonkin Gif t of Giving Award

“For more than three decades,” said Gif t for Life Board Chair Ari L owenstein, “Gif t for Life has raised millions of dollars to support HIV/AIDS research, education, treatment, prevention and advocacy This year ’ s AIDS Walk, and our special fundraising tribute for Su Hilty, team captain emeritus, is an especially meaningful continuation of our work I join many of my fellow GFL board members in participating in this worthy and fun event!”

“Being part of Gif t for Life, this past year has truly been a highlight, and I look for ward to being second vice chair,” Hoffman said “ The work Wor ld Central Kitchen does is incredible I am honored to be part of the GFL team to help fundraise for such a great organization ”

The Gif t for Life Board inc ludes recognized leaders in the gif t, home and stationer y industries: Alana Branston, E m e r a l d E x p o s i t i on s ; An d re a Pad i l l a , Tr a n s p ac ; An ge l a Jacobson, Stephen Joseph; Cathy Steel, Cathy Steel Associates; Christina Bell, Clarion Events; Cr ystal V ilkaitis, Cr ystal Media; Jessica Barile, Paddywax; Julie McCallum, Gif t Shop P lus; Landon Metts, MarketT ime; L enise W illis, Gif ts & Decorative Accessories; Matt Katzenson, Fine Lines; Maureen Carpenter, The Q ueens ’ Jewels; Monica L oving, Ivystone; Nancy Michael, International Housewares Association; Peter Schauben, Appelman Schauben; Russ Jones, Ivystone; and Sheila Charton, Springboard Futures

Gift for Life was founded by Peter Schauben of Appleman Schauben in 1992 in response to the tragic loss of industr y lives to AIDS The organization’s first meeting at the National S tationer y S how brought together a cross-section of the i n d u s t r y ’ s l e ad i n g p u b l i s h e r s , m a rk e t c e n t e r s , s a l e s re p s , manufacturers and retailers – all willing to convene and work together toward a common goal

Since that time, Gif t for Life has raised near ly $6 million for AIDS research, education, treatment and care through nationwide at-market events, cause marketing programs and direct donations In 2021, with COVI D-19 tempor ar il y causing cancellation of in-person events at industr y markets, Gif t for Life pivoted toward online digital events with a specific emphasis on COVID-related hunger relief In 2023, t h e a l l - vo l u n t e e r o r g a n i z a t i on w i l l c on t i n u e t o s u p p o r t programs that address hunger relief KN

Now in its 38th year, AIDS Walk New York has inspired near ly 890,000 people to walk and millions more to donate, raising near ly $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 ser vice organizations that are able to participate as teams and raise funds through the Community Partnership Program

Gif t for Life was founded in 1992 by a small group of gif t industr y professionals responding to the tragic loss of friends and colleagues as a result of AIDS Since then, Gif t for Life has raised near ly $6M for AIDS research and education, a n d H I V / A I D S p re ve n t i on a n d t re a t m e n t w i t h c h a r i t y partners AmfAR (1992-2007) and DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation F ighting AIDS (2008-2020)

In 2021, with COVID-19 temporarily causing cancellation of in-person events at industr y markets, Gif t for Life pivoted toward online digital events with a specific emphasis on COVI D-related hunger relief In 2023, the all-volunteer organization will continue to support programs that address hunger relief KN