AIDS Walk NY 2010, Sunday, May 16, Central Park, NYC

Walk with the Keith Haring Foundation team on Sunday, May 16th 2010! AIDS Walk New York, the world’s largest AIDS fundraising event, benefits Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) and over 30 other tri-state area AIDS service organizations. GMHC is the nation’s oldest and most comprehensive AIDS service organization, serving approximately 15,000 people living with HIV and AIDS and their families each year, and countless more through its prevention and advocacy work locally and nationally. Visit our team page to register, donate, & walk: http://tiny.cc/KHFaidswalk2010

http://keithharingfoundationarchives.wordpress.com/

The Keith Haring Foundation was established by the artist in 1989 to assist AIDS-related charities, as well as
children’s charities. The Foundation maintains the largest resource of archives on the late artist. Keith Haring
experimented with bold lines and active figures, injecting poignant messages of vitality and unity into each piece he worked on. Born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1958, he became widely known for his vibrant and life-affirming public art works, which often carried social messages. Between 1982 and 1989, he produced more than 50 public pieces in dozens of cities around the world, and his work was widely exhibited in galleries and museums. In the 20 years since his untimely passing, Haring has been the subject of countless gallery shows
and almost 30 one-person museum exhibitions.

The Keith Haring Foundation team was formed in 2008 in an effort to commemorate what would have been Haring’s 50th birthday on May 4 of that year. Since then, this incredible team has raised more than $76,000
for GMHC and other tri-state area AIDS service organizations. AIDS Walk New York Team Coordinator, Lesley Mendoza, has been working with Julia and the Foundation for three years now. “At the very beginning of the 25th annual AIDS Walk New York, I was eager to contact the Keith Haring team to get them to register. Julia and the staff of the Keith Haring Foundation are some of the most thoughtful and dedicated people I know. Their activism within the New York community, maintaining and honoring Keith Haring’s legacy, along with the work they accomplish, is truly admirable.”

In addition to raising money and walking, the Keith Haring Foundation proudly announced a partnership with GMHC, the AIDS Walk’s primary beneficiary, aimed at strengthening the agency’s efforts to feed underprivileged families and individuals living with HIV and AIDS. The partnership included a $250,000 grant from the Foundation, will launch on the 20th anniversary of Keith Haring’s untimely death due to AIDS-related
complications. To mark this anniversary, GMHC has appropriately renamed their longstanding pantry program the Keith Haring Food Pantry Program.

“The Keith Haring Foundation is proud to partner with GMHC in support of their food pantry. Since Keith’s early involvement with GMHC, from donating auction items to the years the Foundation donated a Keith Haring
image to the AIDS dance-a-thon, it was a natural progression to become involved more long-term with a program that has such a direct effect on clients,” said Gruen.

Donations continue coming in to the Keith Haring Foundation AIDS Walk team.

“This year is definitely different from when we participated in the AIDS Walk in 2008. In 2008, it was a celebration of Keith’s life. That year would have marked his 50th birthday. 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of Keith’s passing, so it has been a spirit of a memorial and somewhat less festive, since it’s still so hard to believe he’s gone; it feels unreal. Building the team is a primary way to honor Keith and all the friends that we’ve lost. It’s a joyous occasion to rally support and increase awareness, but at the same time, bittersweet,” says Gruen.