For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Justin Burke - 213.201.1525

EMAIL:jburke@apla.org

AIDS Walk A SUCCESS!
More Than 25,000 Participants Raise Nearly $2.6 Million
at 18th Annual AIDS Walk Los Angeles

Funds Support Critical HIV/AIDS Services at AIDS Project Los Angeles
and 25 other Organizations Across Los Angeles County

Los Angeles, October 21, 2002 – An enthusiastic crowd of more than 25,000 Walkers raised nearly $2.6 million at AIDS Walk Los Angeles, on Sunday, October 20. “AIDS Walk is a critical fundraiser for men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS in Los Angeles County,” said Craig E. Thompson, Executive Director, AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA). “Even in this time of economic uncertainty, the Los Angeles community continues to demonstrate their commitment to fighting AIDS and supporting people living with HIV and AIDS.”

AIDS Walk Los Angeles benefits AIDS Project Los Angeles and 25 other AIDS service organizations across Los Angeles County. Services include APLA’s food pantries, the APLA Dental Clinic, prevention campaigns, nutrition programs, children’s services and critically needed housing assistance.

“By Joining together, you have demonstrated that the people who need our time, our resources, and caring can continue to count on us. As AIDS Project Los Angeles marks 20 years of prevention, advocacy and service, we recommit ourselves to the fight. And we can’t do it without you,” said Brenda Freiberg, Co-Chair, APLA Board of Directors, addressing the crowd of walkers in West Hollywood.

Eric McCormack, Rita Moreno, John Spencer, Ming-Na, Rudy Galindo, Melissa Joan Hart, Eva Tamargo Lemus, and other cast members from “Passions” and “Port Charles,” and Danny Bonaduce and Dorian Gregory, hosts of “The Other Half,” rallied walkers for the kick-off. Daniel Rodriquez, known as “The Singing NYPD Cop,” sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), which this year marks 20 years of prevention, advocacy and service, provides direct services to more than 10,000 men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS in Los Angeles County. Services include prevention education, food banks, professional dental care, housing assistance, mental health counseling, and case management. APLA is a leader in the provision of bilingual HIV treatment information, in print and on the Internet, and advocates for effective AIDS-related policies and legislation on the local, state and federal level. For more information, please visit www.apla.org.

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