Upcoming AIDS Cycling Events Nationwide Focus on Maximizing Donations to HIV/AIDS Prevention, Awareness
AIDS advocacy groups in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, California and Washington, D.C., recently announced that they plan to sponsor several cycling events this summer to raise money for HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness efforts, the Chicago Tribune reports. Pallotta TeamWorks Inc., a group that raised more than $15 million dollars for AIDS organizations through their "popular" Heartland AIDS Ride from Minnesota to Chicago, last year "called it quits," citing a decline in participation. Pallota had been criticized for "costly self-promotion" and low returns on funds to charities, according to the Tribune. Organizers of the upcoming rides have promised that 60% to 85% of funds raised for the rides will go to AIDS prevention efforts; the Heartland AIDS Ride donated just 20% of funds raised. "The Pallotta event became less focused on the charity and more on the event, and they spent a lot of money doing that event," Bob Powers, an organizer for a ride benefiting the AIDS Network in Madison, Wis., said. Organizers of the upcoming rides are looking to local donors and volunteers to provide meals and camping and shower facilities, all of which were paid for using fundraisers' money in past Pallota events. Kent Linder, an organizer for the Minnesota Red Ribbon Ride, said that the upcoming summer rides are going to go "back to basics for more of a grassroots event" (Nevala, Chicago Tribune, 2/9).
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