Gift for Life /NY NOW AIDS Walk Team Raises $42,000+

Gift for Life, the gift and home industries’ longest-running, volunteer-led charitable organization, has announced that its 12 GFL/NY NOW team members collectively have raised $42,357 for AIDS Walk NY, which took place on Sunday, May 18, in New York City’s Central Park. Additional donations will be accepted through June 13 at Gift for Life/NY NOW team AIDS Walk New York.

This is the 13^th consecutive year that Gift for Life has fielded an AIDS Walk NY team. Participants included eight in-person walkers in New York City as well as remote walkers, including Matt Katzenson of Fine Lines, the team’s top fundraiser. Notably, seven of the GFL/NY NOW team members reached “Star Walker” status, raising more than $1,000 each. A special “Steps for Su” campaign, conducted in memory of Su Hilty, the team’s former co-captain who passed away in December 2024, yielded $1,800.

AIDS Walk New York is the world’s largest and most visible annual HIV/AIDS fundraising event. Through the fun and festive four-mile walk/run, some 10,000+ participants in the 2025 event have raised $1,913,275 benefitting GMHC and other tri-state area HIV and AIDS services organizations.

“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.”

Former Gift for Life chair, Matthew Katzenson, not only led the team in fundraising with $12,470 donated by friends and family, but also was among the event’s overall top fundraisers. Other Gift for Life/NY NOW “Star Walkers” who raised $1,000+ were Kelly Bristol, Sally Fisher, Caroline Kennedy, Amy Loewenberg, Matthew Mathiasen and Bill McCue.

Team co-captain Kelly Bristol added, “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. In times like these, personal donations have never been more vital and we’re deeply grateful to our supporters.”

Donations are accepted through June 13 at https://gmhc.aidswalkny.org/team/628942

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.

More information is available at www.giftforlife.org