Gift for Life/NY NOW Team Raises Over $42,000 at 2025 AIDS Walk New York

Furniture World News Desk on 5/27/2025

Gift for Life, the gift and home industry’s largest volunteer-led charitable organization, announced that its Gift for Life/NY NOW team has raised $42,357 for AIDS Walk New York, held on Sunday, May 18, in Central Park. Contributions will continue to be accepted through June 13 via the team’s AIDS Walk NY fundraising page.

This year marks the 13th consecutive year Gift for Life has participated in AIDS Walk New York. The 12-member team included eight in-person walkers and several remote participants. Among the team, seven individuals reached "Star Walker" status by raising more than $1,000 each. A campaign conducted in memory of former team co-captain Su Hilty, who passed away in December 2024, contributed $1,800 to the total.

“This year's team members really pulled together and did an incredible fundraising job. By working together, sharing tips and challenging each other with weekly fundraising goals, we were able to surpass our goal,” said team co-captain Caroline (Keb) Kennedy. “We had a great day to walk, and are grateful to everyone who supported our efforts to raise money for this important cause. We especially thank NY NOW, which provided $5,000 in matching funds, as well as the team T-shirts.”

Matthew Katzenson of Fine Lines led the team’s fundraising efforts with $12,470 and was recognized among the event’s top overall fundraisers. Other Gift for Life/NY NOW team members who achieved Star Walker status include Kelly Bristol, Sally Fisher, Caroline Kennedy, Amy Loewenberg, Matthew Mathiasen, and Bill McCue.

“Despite current economic conditions which are challenging for fundraising, our extended community of industry colleagues, friends and family continues to show up with incredible generosity and heart,” added team co-captain Kelly Bristol. “In times like these, personal donations have never been more vital and we’re deeply grateful to our supporters.”

The 2025 AIDS Walk New York drew more than 10,000 participants and raised $1,913,275 to benefit GMHC and other HIV/AIDS service organizations across the tri-state area.

About Gift for Life
Gift for Life was founded by Peter Schauben in 1992 in response to the tragic loss of industry lives to AIDS. The organization’s first meeting at the National Stationery Show brought together a cross-section of the industry’s leading publishers, market centers, sales reps, manufacturers, and retailers – all willing to convene and work together towards a common goal. Since that time, Gift for Life has raised nearly $6 million for AIDS research, education, treatment and care through nationwide at-market events, cause marketing programs and direct donations. In 2021, Gift for Life pivoted towards online digital events with a specific emphasis on supporting World Central Kitchen’s COVID-related hunger relief. Since that time, Gift for Life has led gift and home industry efforts to fund provision of nearly 100,000 hot, nutritious meals to communities impacted by crisis and conflict worldwide. Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ longest-running, volunteer-led, national charitable organization, continues to support year-round programs that address hunger relief, as well as annual support for AIDS Walk NY which benefits GMHC’s HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and advocacy programs. More information is available at www.giftforlife.org.

About AIDS Walk New York and GMHC
AIDS Walk New York is the world’s largest and most visible single-day AIDS fundraising event. In over 30 years, the event has inspired nearly 900,000 people to walk and millions more to donate, raising nearly $157 million to combat HIV and AIDS. Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), the primary beneficiary, is the nation’s leading provider of HIV/AIDS care, prevention services, and advocacy. The event also supports other tri-state AIDS service, social justice, and public health organizations through its Community Partnership Program (CPP). For more information, visit gmhc.aidswalkny.org and gmhc.org.