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LOCAL FEATURE | class
By DUSTIN FITZHARRIS
Apr. 18, 2008
Last year the AIDS Walk in New York raised $6.8 million. The six teams that contributed the highest amounts were MAC Cosmetics, Gap Inc., Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), J.P. Morgan Chase, Federated Department Stores and Rita Fischer’s Team.
Huh? Rita Fisher’s Team? No, Rita Fischer is not a million-dollar corporation or organization. Rita Fisher is an 84-year old Brooklyn native who since 1986 has raised close to a half million dollars in the AIDS Walk. She will be adding even more to her total when she participates in the 23rd annual AIDS Walk on Sunday, May 18, in Central Park.
Fischer first got involved with the Walk through PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian & Gays) NYC, an organization she joined in 1984 after her son, Jay, came out to her and her husband by leaving a note by their bed. The note contained the hotline number for PFLAG and said they should call it if they needed support. Within a few hours, the confused parents were at a meeting.
Twenty-five years later, she still has vivid and haunting memories from those early days.
“It was the height of the epidemic and every week we went to a funeral of another child of a parent we became friendly with in PFLAG,” Fischer said. “The funerals were so overwhelming, and both Alex [her husband who passed away 10 years ago] and I felt we should be doing something more than just feeling terribly sad.”
That first year, Fischer raised $300. Since then the amounts have increased significantly, but Fischer’s strategy for raising the money hasn’t changed a bit. It’s all done by an old fashioned mailing that begins in January from her home in Florida where she spends half the year.
“My mailing list has about 500 names,” Fischer said. “If I meet you, and I can get your name and address, you’re on my list!”
In addition to the mailing list, Fischer also receives support from former colleagues and friends who collect donations wherever they go. Those names then get added to Fischer’s master list.
“People say, ‘No more! No more!’ But I have hardly lost any people from my list. Maybe people are not as generous now because there are bad times out there, but I really don’t think I’ve lost too many.”
And if you do donate, you can always depend on one thing.
“Everybody who gives me a donation—from a dollar to whatever—gets a thank you note,” Fischer said.
Over the years Drew Tagliabue, executive director of PFLAG NYC has witnessed first hand Fischer’s flair for fundraising.
“You can look at how many people she reaches through her AIDS Walk team and know she connects with people,” Tagliabue said. “Over the years at PFLAG there are literally thousands of families that were helped by Rita."
Marjorie J. Hill, PhD, chief executive officer of GMHC, agrees with Tagliabue.
“Rita is just an extraordinary force of nature. She’s an inspiration to all of us involved in AIDS fundraising and awareness,” Hill said.
AIDS Walk Goes Green
The AIDS Walk began in New York in 1986 and raised $710,000. That year over 20,000 people were diagnosed with the disease in the United States. More than 10,000 died. And President Reagan hadn’t even mentioned the word AIDS yet.
Today, the Walk has since gone on to raise more than $97 million, making it the largest AIDS fundraising event in the world. A staggering 45,000 participants walked the 6.2 mile course last year.
This year, Fischer and other walkers are in for a change. For the first time, the AIDS Walk is going green.
“We’ve introduced a Green Walker program, recognizing participants who opt out of receiving printed/mailed materials in favor of online communications,” Hill said. “Green Walkers will wear special green ribbons on the day of the Walk. We have a new sponsor 1-800-GOT-JUNK that is working with us to create a recovery and recycling program. We’re also working with 41pounds.org to benefit from reductions in traditional junk mail. We’re targeting a 25 percent reduction in environmental impact with this year’s walk.”
HIV on Rise
But make no mistake, even though there is another cause on the scene, the money raised at the AIDS Walk will continue to go HIV prevention programs and AIDS support services in the tri-state area. Fischer says that even after all of these years the Walk is more important than ever.
“The public has gotten away from AIDS,” Fischer said. “There is also a big problem with young people nowadays. They think it’s [HIV and AIDS] a chronic disease where they can go to the supermarket and get something to cure it.”
Fischer’s thoughts are validated by data from GMHC. Though people are more nonchalant, statistics show that the number of people living with HIV continues to increase.
In fact, more than 1 million people in the United States are estimated to be living with HIV. That’s a first since the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. Hill said there are several factors contributing to this.
“The rate of infection remains at a steady pace, and people live longer as a result of advances in treatment. Unfortunately, everyone is not benefiting equally,” Hill said. “AIDS is increasingly associated with poverty and lack of access to health care. There still remain significant disparities related to gender, sexual orientation and race.”
Furthermore, Hill notes that it is estimated that one in four people living with HIV is unaware of being infected.
“We have to help people understand the importance of testing and knowing their status and the benefits of early diagnosis,” Hill said.
Fischer and her team will once again do all that they can to spread awareness and raise money. Now that she has reached her goal of a half million dollars, she said her new goal is “just getting through another year” and beating the $59,550 that she raised last year. She credits her hard work with the AIDS Walk to her husband Alex—who was influential in her participation in the first Walk—and her son’s sexuality.
“It turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me and my husband,” Fischer said about having a gay son. “We learned to be tolerant. I love my son and his partner, Michael, very much.”
For parents who may be struggling with having a gay child, Fischer has advice.
“Talk about it, and talk about it positively with people,” Fischer said. “If you come across positively, others will too. People get their vibes from how parents feel. So, learn, listen and love unconditionally.”
Oh, and don’t forget to send Rita Fischer your donation for the AIDS Walk.
To join Rita’s Team, visit www.aidswalk.net/newyork/ click on “Team info” and select “Join a Team” The AIDS Walk New York will take place on Sunday, May 18, in Central Park. Walkers should enter the venue at the corner of the park at 59th St. and 5th Ave. to turn in their funds. Sign-in begins at 8:30 am. For more information, visit www.aidswalk.net/newyork/.
© 2008 The New York Blade | A Window Media Publication