The AIDS Action Committee hosts its annual 5k run and 10k walk to raise funds to fight the epidemic
More than 40 Grand Circle associates participated in the 26th annual AIDS Walk Boston in June.
On June 5, 1981, the first case of AIDS was reported in Los Angeles. Two years later, in 1983, the Aids Action Committee of Massachusetts was formed to help combat the epidemic through both the prevention of new infections and programs aimed at optimizing the health of those already afflicted. Today, though great strides have been made in AIDS awareness and treatment programs, the battle to end AIDS rages on, and the AIDS Action Committee serves as the vanguard to promote prevention, education, and a better standard of living for those infected with the often-stigmatized disease.
On the sunny morning of Sunday, June 5, 2011—the 30th anniversary of the first reported case—more than 40 Grand Circle associates joined almost 15,000 people along the Charles River Esplanade for the 26th annual AIDS Walk Boston, the keystone event of the AIDS Action Committee’s fundraising calendar. Participants helped in a multitude of ways—by joining the 5k run or 10k walk, donating money, or simply and solemnly honoring the memory or struggle of a loved one affected by the disease.
Dionne Warwick’s “That’s What Friends Are For” was the anthem for the day’s event—as it has been for the 26 years of the event’s existence—as walkers and runners from all walks of life basked in the gorgeous weather and got a good workout for a good cause. Participants congregated afterwards for the Wellness Festival, an annual post-walk celebration of healthy living.
Grand Circle has supported the AIDS Action Committee since 1986—raising more than $367,000.
The AIDS Walk is an important source of funding for the AIDS Action Committee, and more than $35 million has been raised since its inception in 1986. Grand Circle is proud to have supported the event from the very beginning, contributing more than $367,000 to date—over $9,000 of which was raised for Sunday’s event alone. Boston associates came together for an ice cream fundraiser on June 2, with Grand Circle Foundation matching contributions of more than $25 and entering them into a contest to win a pair of highly coveted Red Sox tickets. Donors also had the opportunity to meet Rebecca Haag , the president and CEO of the AIDS Action Committee, as well as one of Grand Circle Foundation’s honored Gutsy Leaders.
The AIDS Action committee has been dependent on this funding to combat the AIDS epidemic for almost as long as the disease has been around. It helps on a personal level, through testing, counseling, and assistance with housing, utilities, transportation, and more. It also works on a broader scale, through education of at-risk AIDS patients and health care professionals about preventative techniques, as well as AIDS policy advocacy programs at all levels of government, local to federal. The road to the end of AIDS is a long one to walk, and Grand Circle is proud to support such an important cause.
To learn more about the work of Grand Circle Foundation—or to sign up for its monthly e-newsletter—visit www.grandcirclefoundation.org.