March 15, 2025
Fort Lauderdale Beach Park | www.FloridaAIDSWalk.org
By Savannah Whaley
Spring break in South Florida will once again see revelers walking and dancing for dollars when the Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival, presented by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), holds its annual bash to benefit local organizations.
Taking place Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, the 5K walk will mark its 20th year and promises an epic post-walk concert.
“Because it’s the 20th anniversary, we will be going above and beyond to celebrate the continued impact,” previewed AHF National Director of Community Engagement and Communications W. Imara Canady. “We are looking at ways to enhance and elevate the celebratory experience, and we are going to be working hard to raise even more money.”
AHF and generous donors will once again be matching all Florida AIDS Walk donations dollar-for-dollar. All proceeds raised at the event go directly to AIDS service organizations in South Florida.
“It’s really important for us to continue to do this walk because we are still seeing high rates of HIV in Broward and Miami-Dade,” said Ebonni Chrispin, AHF director of legislative affairs and community engagement. “I think supporting smaller nonprofit organizations that are doing incredible life-saving work is the most important priority for the team at AHF.”
One of the organizations that will benefit from the event is the Pride Center at Equality Park.
“The walk doesn’t fund one particular program; it encompasses and touches them all,” explained Pride Center CEO Robert Boo. “It really does help with the wellness program, formally known as HIV prevention, the active aging program serving the nation’s largest weekly gathering of LGBT active agers, our Women with Pride program, and our transgender services, for example.”
Boo notes that the Pride Center has seen a dramatic increase in the need for its services, as well as those offered by other community organizations.
“We get over 100 phone calls a day from people needing a referral, and we link them to resources within the community,” Boo said. “Whether that’s health care, mental health, financial services, or estate planning, it runs the whole gamut.”
In addition to checking out the food trucks and other food and beverage vendors, participants can connect with community resources at tables manned by the organizations benefiting from the walk, as well as other allied organizations.
People can sign up to join teams created by the event’s beneficiaries, create their own teams, or walk as individuals. There are many volunteer opportunities, from handing out water to cheering at the finish line. All participants and volunteers receive free entry to the music festival., a feature of the walk that was added in later years. Tickets for the concert are also available for $35.
“Some folks love a good walk, and historically great causes have been about coming together for walks,” Canady said. “We know our younger generation loves a good music festival, and it is a great entry point for everybody.”
The Pride Center exceeded its goal last year, raising $506,000, which was then matched.
“Funding for programs never covers all the expenses, so we are able to utilize the funds we raise through the Florida AIDS Walk to help cover those expenses and ensure that we can fill those gaps,” Boo stressed. “It is important that we have this collaboration and the recognition of having an international organization such as AHF be a part of our community.”
To find out more about how to participate, view the route map, and see who is playing at the music festival, visit www.FloridaAIDSWalk.org.
“It’s a great time for everyone to come out, represent, and show their support of the community,” Boo said.
