AIDS Walk New York Breaks Records

NEW YORK, NY -- More 45,000 people participated in the 22nd Annual AIDS Walk New York this Sunday, making it the most successful AIDS Walk ever and raising an incredible $6,857,527 for various AIDS related causes.

"New York showed its strong support for Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC)," said AIDS Walk Founder and Producer Craig R. Miller. "We all took to the streets to raise a record-setting $6.8 million to support people living with HIV/AIDS in New York City and to fund the critical HIV prevention programs needed to stop new infections."

"The phenomenal success of AIDS Walk represents teamwork at its essence. None of us walks alone, and the success of AIDS Walk is a testament to our ability to work, walk, and succeed together," said Marjorie J. Hill, Chief Executive Officer of GMHC. "AIDS Walk is proof that New Yorkers care very deeply about AIDS here in New York City, the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic in the U.S."

AIDS Walk opening ceremonies featured the participation of Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg, Grammy winner Cyndi Lauper, T.R. Knight (Grey's Anatomy), Lance Bass ('N Sync), Alan Cumming (X2, Cabaret), B.D. Wong (Law & Order: SVU), Jason Steed (Noah's Arc), and Emmy-winning writer/actor Bruce Vilanch, with special musical performances by the cast of A Chorus Line, and Stephanie J. Block (The Pirate Queen), who sang "You'll Never Walk Alone," the AIDS Walk theme song.

AIDS Walk New York benefits GMHC and more than 50 other local AIDS organizations.

"These dollars permit us to provide innovative direct service programs, outreach and education to hundreds of thousands, and fierce public policy leadership at all levels of government," said Robert E. Bank, Esq., Chief Operating Officer at GMHC. "We are grateful to our corporate and individual donors, media sponsors, and especially to the tens of thousands of New Yorkers who make this event the largest gathering of AIDS activists in the world."