AIDS Walk Wisconsin
AIDS Walk Wisconsin is one of hundreds of such events held across the United States each year. ARCW held its first annual AIDS Walk on September 30, 1990. More than 1,500 people raised $190,000 to support individuals living with HIV disease in Wisconsin. Since then, tens of thousands of people have walked and raised over $11,800,000 for HIV prevention, care, and treatment services.
The walk kicks off in Henry W. Maier Festival Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront and continues through Veterans Park. The walk benefits a variety of organizations dedicated to fighting AIDS in Wisconsin. In addition to ARCW, beneficiaries have included Camp Heartland, the City of Milwaukee Health Department, and the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center.
Each year the AIDS Walk selects Honorary Chairs to help promote the event. The list of luminaries includes: Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and Jessica Doyle (2003), Vice President Al Gore and Tipper Gore (1995), Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Kris Barrett (2005), Earvin “Magic” Johnson (1993), Bette Midler (1996), Olympian Greg Louganis (1997), musician Justin Vernon (2009), Green Bay Packer Clay Matthews (2011), Milwaukee Brewer Ryan Braun, (2012), and television host Tim Gunn (2014).