AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s 40th Anniversary Gala raises over $770,000
On Saturday, April 5, over 750 supporters of the HIV movement in Chicago came together at the Geraghty to commemorate 40 years of service from AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) – raising more than $770,000 (gross) in one night.
The evening featured live entertainment, an awards ceremony, paddle raise, live auction, and other ways to give. Attendees were dazzled by performances from emcees Ari Gato and Angela Ingersoll, and performance collective Haus of Paint. DJ Onwa provided a memorable soundtrack. A short documentary film produced by AFC with Chappell Communications Group chronicled AFC’s 40-year history and its continued fight for racial justice and health equity as it works to dismantle structural barriers to ending the HIV epidemic. Immediately following the documentary, a paddle raise and live auction in support of AFC raised more than $155,000, with an additional $100,000 match provided by an anonymous donor.
In their remarks, President & CEO John Peller and others shared optimism for the future and encouraged fierce resistance to the setbacks presented by the Trump administration – noting that AFC and the HIV movement have been fighting against headwinds for 40 years. “Let me tell you something – diversity, equity and inclusion are basic American values of fairness,” Peller said. “We cannot end the HIV epidemic without centering diversity, equity and inclusion in our work, and without being able to recognize and acknowledge that a transgender person is nothing less than a beautiful human being.”
Illinois State Senator Mike Simmons struck a similarly optimistic tone when speaking of resistance and resolve, encouraging the crowd to dream big and imagine a better world to bring it into existence. “We are going to dream like we’ve never dreamed before,” Simmons said.
The night’s honorees included Craig Johnson, program director for the American Medical Association Foundation and former AFC Board Chair, who received the Lori Kaufman Volunteer Award for his work leading AFC through the COVID-19 pandemic and development of its first Race Equity plan; ITW, a fortune 300 company known for its inclusive workplace culture and generous support of LGBTQ+ causes and other philanthropic endeavors, which received the Corporate Impact Award; and Illinois State Representative Kelly Cassidy and State Senator Mike Simmons, who each received the Greg Harris Legislative Champion Award, were noted for their tireless advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, public health, and sound HIV policy. AFC President & CEO John Peller was surprised with an award honoring his decade of leadership and his stewardship of the organization through a period of tremendous growth and societal change.
Corporate sponsors of the event included The American Medical Association Foundation, AON, Avita QCare, BMO, Chase, the Geraghty, Gilead, Hourglass Wealth Management, Humana, ITW, Kehoe Designs, McDonald’s, Morgan Stanley, Ropes and Gray, UI Health, VIIV Healthcare, Walgreens. Food and beverage sponsors included Breakthru, Garrett’s Popcorn, Hardly Water, J&L Catering, Molson Coors, Sidetrack, and Suntory Global Spirits.
