voice - AIDS Services Foundation Orange County

Another ASF Home Run!
More than 5,000 people
converged on Angel Stadium of
Anaheim Saturday, May 16 for
Orange County’s largest annual
rally against HIV/AIDS organized by
ASF. Donations from OC AIDS Walk 2009
reached nearly $495,000. This was the 23 rd year OC AIDS Walk
was held.
“Despite some real concerns about raising money in this economy,
Orange Countians showed their generosity for an important cause
even in tough times.” said ASF Executive Director Phil Yaeger.
OC AIDS Walk included individual walkers and teams from area
companies, schools, civic organizations and churches, synagogues,
temples and mosques. Donations were raised through pledges made
on behalf of the participants. Rossy Jones, a Laguna Beach resident
who walks in memory of her son who died of HIV/AIDS, was
recognized during opening ceremonies for raising $33,000 last year
and more than $150,000 in the past 15 years she has walked.
This year Deborah Reed of the Altrusa Club, a women’s service
organization, took the Top Walker prize securing $14,270 in pledged
donations for OC AIDS Walk.
Vikki Vargas, Orange County bureau chief for NBC-TV LA emceed
the kick-off program then asked KROQ radio personality Doc on
the Roc to launch the event by cutting the starting line ribbon. Both
NBC and KROQ have supported OC AIDS Walk with public service
announcements as well as news coverage of this unique event.
Participants walked 3.2 miles (5K distance) around the stadium before
entering the facility and circling the field’s warning track. Walkers
had the unusual opportunity to watch themselves on the stadium’s
AngelVision big screen. After completing the walk, participants
enjoyed entertainment and a food festival featuring vendors who
donated 100 percent of the proceeds from their sales to OC AIDS
Walk. Several OC AIDS Walk sponsors set up information and
exhibit booths as well.
Organizations benefiting from the money raised by ASF at OC AIDS
Walk include the following groups: ACTION (AIDS CareTeam in our
Neighborhood), AEGIS, AIDS Services Foundation Orange County, The
Center Orange County, Mercy House, OC Cornerstone Outreach, Public
Law Center, Shanti Orange County, Straight Talk Clinic, Inc. and the
University of California, Irvine (UCI) Education Center.
Once again ASF was able to count on the generosity of many of its
corporate and community partners with financial and in-kind coming
from a variety of sponsors. Among those aiding the fundraiser were:
Pacific Life, Disneyland, NBC Channel 4, Nordstrom, Time Warner
Cable, ASICS, Wells Fargo, the City of Anaheim, and the PIMCO
Foundation. d
THE VOICE aug-oct 09 13