In 1987, volunteers from Philadelphia’s gay and lesbian community center, Penguin Place, decided to organize a walk-a-thon to support area AIDS agencies and to raise public awareness about the disease. The Philadelphia Region's first AIDS Walk raised $33,000. Since then, tens of thousands of fundraising walkers have gathered each year to participate in the region’s largest annual HIV/AIDS public awareness and fundraising event.
AIDS Walk Philly, produced by AIDS Fund, now includes a display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and information tables from local service organizations. Each participant is asked to raise funds by soliciting sponsors – your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. You can register as an individual or you can participate as part of a team. Either way, you’ll be raising money from your sponsors that will go to fight HIV/AIDS in the Philadelphia Region.