(GayWebSource.com – Gay Media & Press Network) – Posted by Michael Lamb – Echelon Magazine
Essential fundraiser still stretching to reach its fundraising goal
Actor and activist Wilson Cruz, who accepted the GLAAD Media Award in 1995 for his portrayal of Rickie Vasquez, a gay high school student on the groundbreaking drama My So-Called Life, will host the 26th Desert AIDS Walk this Saturday morning, October 19, at Ruth Hardy Park in Palm Springs. Registration begins at 7:30 AM, followed by opening of the Health and Wellness Fair sponsored by Walgreens, entertainment, a rally, and yoga warm-up before the Walk steps off at 9:30 AM. Anyone raising $25 or more will receive this year’s Walk T-shirt.
“We were so pleased when the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians returned this year as the Walk’s presenting sponsor and for Walgreens running its month-long, in-store Red Ribbon promotion for the fourth consecutive year,” said David Brinkman, CEO of Desert AIDS Project, the beneficiary of the Desert AIDS Walk. “We were just as delighted when Wilson said that he could join us as Walk host because he is an impassioned activist for both HIV and LGBT causes.”
In 2008, GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) honored Cruz with its Visibilidad Award and he currently serves as a full-time GLAAD national spokesperson. D.A.P. received the 2011 GLAAD Amplifier Award for its “AIDS is not over” public service campaign, showing that AIDS does not discriminate by sexuality, race, religion, or any other criteria, pointing out that the H in HIV stands for “Human.”
Cruz has continued to appear in several memorable roles that have spanned TV, film, and the Broadway stage. These have included Grey’s Anatomy, He’s Just Not That Into You, Noah’s Arc, The West Wing, RENT, Party of Five, and Ally McBeal. He recently served on the Board of Directors for The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), and for the past two years, co-chaired their annual Respect Awards.
Cruz invites everyone to find their own “inner activist” and help D.A.P. reach its fundraising goal of $250,000 for client services with the 26th Desert AIDS Walk. Donations to individual and team Walk pages – at desertAIDSwalk.org – will continue to be accepted through the end of October. Once on the webpage, click on the “Incentives and Prizes” button to see what you might win – besides the feeling of having done a lot of good for others who need your help. While supplies last, incentives include one-year subscriptions to Out Magazine and tickets to D.A.P. events like the Mid-Summer Dance Party and the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards.
ABOUT DESERT AIDS WALK AND DESERT AIDS PROJECT
Throughout its 30 years of service in the communities of the Coachella Valley, dedicated volunteers, donors, and sponsors have been the lifeblood of Desert AIDS Project. During a quarter-century of Desert AIDS Walks, they have helped to raise almost $6.25 million from friends and families, as well as through significant sponsorships from community partners. Desert AIDS Project serves people living with HIV and AIDS by providing comprehensive support, including medical care, case management, and social services, like food, housing, and counseling. D.A.P. also offers free and confidential HIV testing at a number of locations throughout the communities it serves. To learn more about Desert AIDS Project, please call 760-323-2118, visit www.desertaidsproject.org or find them on Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube.
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