For the third consecutive year, Marathon Oil is stepping up as title sponsor of this year’s AIDS Walk Houston. The walk, now in its 23rd year, is the largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser of its kind in Texas, and is scheduled March 11, beginning and ending at downtown’s Sam Houston Park.
Produced by AIDS Foundation Houston, funds raised from the walk benefit AFH and 10 local AIDS service organizations to support HIV education and prevention efforts and to provide care for thousands of Houstonians living with HIV/AIDS.
“We applaud AIDS Foundation Houston and its devoted staff for the vital work they do on a daily basis in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” said Mike Stewart, Marathon Oil’s vice president of accounting and finance, controller, and treasurer. “At Marathon, we understand the importance of taking an active role in communities where we live and work, and we’re proud to support AFH’s important mission by again serving as title sponsor for this event.”
“Marathon Oil has been an incredible partner to AIDS Foundation Houston by serving as title sponsor for the third year in a row,” said AFH CEO Angiela Zielinski. “We are incredibly grateful for Marathon Oil’s continued support of this important event which helps raise urgently needed funds to meet our client’s most basic needs.”
HIV/AIDS first made itself widely known in the 1980s, prompting organizers to recognize AFH’s 30th anniversary by adopting the “Totally ’80s” theme for the walk. Participants are encouraged to dress in ’80s garb, sporting sweatbands or side ponytails and similar accessories, to get into the spirit of the morning. Madd Hatta, radio host of 97.9 The Box, serves as grand marshal for the event that provides hope for those impacted by or living with HIV/AIDS.
Last year’s walk raised more than $750,000, helping AFH provide services to more than 7,000 clients a year. AIDS service organizations named as benefiting partners of the 2012 walk include Baylor College of Medicine, Teen Health Clinic, Bering Omega Community Services, Brentwood Community Foundation, Houston Buyers Club/Expert Nutrition, Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, Inc., Lazarus House, Live Consortium, Planned Parenthood, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, and YWCA.
To register for AIDS Walk Houston, log on to aidshelp.org. —Nancy Ford
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