After coming to Palm Springs many years ago and finding out how the Desert AIDS Walk was raising money for client services at Desert AIDS Project, I signed up to help right away. I’ve been Walking every year since … and it became a tradition for me to make some kind of wacky hat, to stand out from the crowd.

 

In 2003, I was in my garage making my Walk hat when my neighbor – a gentleman named Brett Wallis who I didn’t know very well at that point – wandered over and struck up a conversation. As I continued to work, I answered his questions about D.A.P. and how they provided care, prevention, and advocacy services for those with HIV and AIDS right here in our own community.

 

I was delighted when Brett returned the very next day with a contribution to my Walk efforts. To say that I was shocked when I looked at all the zeroes on that check is putting it mildly – he had given me a contribution of $25,000!!

 

Until then, I had been unaware that Brett ran The Wallis Foundation, a charitable foundation named for his father, Hal Wallis, a successful Hollywood producer. Once Brett and his wife, Beth, learned more about the wonderful work D.A.P. had been doing since 1984, the Wallis Foundation became a regular contributor. In fact, the Foundation soon increased their contribution to $50,000 and Desert AIDS Project has been the grateful recipient of almost a half million dollars in total from the Wallis Foundation since that day in 2003.

 

Their generosity gives me a renewed commitment each year to Walk – not only to raise money for D.A.P. but to let our friends and neighbors know that AIDS is not over. I hope that you share that commitment, whether you Walk yourself or make a contribution to someone who does.

 

 

I’ve enclosed a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like to help me raise money for D.A.P. at this year’s Walk on October 31. Please consider giving whatever you can.

 

Until there’s a cure …

 

 

Rick Draughon