Dear Friends and Family,
After years of being a donor to the various causes that many of you support, I am asking for YOUR help as I participate in Palm Springs’ 22nd Desert AIDS Walk, benefiting client services at Desert AIDS Project, on October 31, 2009. (To paraphrase an old saying, “Payback is a … pleasure!”)
Although I have donated to a number of AIDS-related organizations over the years, this year I decided to have a more personal involvement by Walking as a part of a team here in my new home of Palm Springs. Given that registration begins at 7:30 AM on a Saturday, those of you who REALLY know me already understand the personal sacrifice involved. (If I was a Facebook-er or a Twitter-er, this is where I would insert a hearty “LOL.”)
I have observed the incredible work Desert AIDS Project has been doing for the last 25 years, through the eyes of my partner, Barry, who is D.A.P.’s Public Relations Manager. Both Barry and I lost former partners and many friends to this disease. We feel a true connection to continuing to fight against its spread, while caring for those who are living with HIV or AIDS. This is exactly what D.A.P. does for people who live in their 11,000 square mile service area – roughly the size of the state of Massachusetts!
That’s why I’m proud that my new employer, Integrated Wealth Management, has put together a team for the Walk. With our incredible support of many causes that benefit the Coachella Valley communities, such as the Palm Springs International Film Festival, it is not surprising my boss, Jim Casey, has been a staunch supporter of D.A.P. for a long time. He is in his second year of co-chairing one of their signature fundraisers, the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards in February, for which Integrated Wealth Management is also returning for its second year as Presenting Sponsor – a second donation of $150,000!
Notwithstanding such large donations – which are isolated at best – the reason I’m really Walking is the NEED. In these difficult economic times, our support is more necessary than ever. State funding has been cut, Federal funding is still in jeopardy, D.A.P. staff has been reduced, and their education outreach and HIV testing pared almost into non-existence. The State’s cut of more than $80 million to all AIDS-related services makes this year’s Walk more necessary than ever. It greatly concerns me that our youth who did not experience loss of family and friends are not being educated and tested. It concerns me that outreach to the poorer part of the community, especially Hispanic women, will be cut back. It concerns me that recently widowed people do not understand the dangers as they re-enter the dating world.
The battle against AIDS is not over. This is not a “gay disease” and never has been. HIV and AIDS affect our young and old; gay and straight; men, women, and children; every race and every religion.
The battle is not over and we must not give up the fight! Please donate what you can.
Until there’s a cure …
Mark L. Marshall