Duane Reade's charitable arm announces new donation record for AIDS Walk New York

NEW YORK — New York-based Duane Reade announced on Friday that the Duane Reade Charitable Foundation has set a new fundraising record for the 26th annual AIDS Walk New York as a presenting sponsor of the event.

AWNY raises funds for Gay Men's Health Crisis and 41 other local AIDS service organizations that provide food, housing, medical care and more to people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as prevention work that reached hundreds of thousands throughout the tri-state area. This year's 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) AWNY is expected to attract more than 45,000 participants and will be held in New York's Central Park on May 15.

As part of its partnership with AWNY, Duane Reade sold $1 paper red-ribbon pinups in its stores between April 3 and May 15. The drug store chain also offered Look Boutique beauty product giveaways, bake sales and other initiatives to drive additional support. With the support of the New York community, combined with a donation from the Duane Reade Charitable Foundation, Duane Reade donated $400,000 to AWNY, thereby setting a new fundraising record.

To celebrate this year's walk, Chuck Newsom, SVP store operations for Duane Reade, rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on May 10.

Since its inception, AWNY has raised more than $116 million to fight AIDS in the tri-state area, and the AIDS Walk movement has raised more than one half-billion dollars nationwide. In addition to its monetary donation, Duane Reade also is donating bottled water that will be distributed to participants along the walk route on the day of the race.

The Duane Reade Charitable Foundation was formed in March 2007 and is committed to supporting charitable organizations that promote health and wellness in New York's communities. A portion of the charity's budget also is reserved to support programs that address local community needs.