AIDS Walk Miami - Walk Talk News - Issue XIII

FINAL SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION...
FOR THE 24TH ANNUAL AIDS WALK MIAMI FUNDRAISER!

Get ready South Florida to mark your calendars, tighten your shoe laces and join our Grand Marshal "Sam Champion" of ABC's Good Morning America and Master of Ceremonies "Scott Padgett" from Local 10 Morning News as we continue to announce the following line-up of events leading up to the 24th Annual AIDS Walk Miami, stepping off from the Miami Beach Convention Center at 9:00am on Sunday morning, April 22nd.

Tonight - Friday, April 20th
Kommona Paddle Race Pre-Sign Up Party
at Adventure Sports from 7-9pm

Join Cynthia Aguilar and the 4th Annual Kommona Paddle Race enthusiasts as they convene on Adventure Sports for the official Kommona Paddle Race Pre-Registration Party at Adventure Sports, 2750 SW 26th Avenue, Miami, Fl 32122.

Sign up online or at Adventure Sports today for only $30. Registration fee does increase on the day of the event to $35. For additional information and to sign up online, click here to visit the Kommona Paddle Race event site.

Saturday - April 21st

6:30am - 4TH ANNUAL KOMMONA PADDLE RACE AT PURDY DOCKS

Join over 100 participants at the 4th Annual Kommona Paddle Race launching from the Purdy Docks on Miami Beach. This event is presented by the Boucher Brothers and KeepPaddlin.org.

Registration begins at 6:30 AM and the first race begins at 8:30 AM. The Kommona Paddle is a 3-5-9 mile race following a course around the Venetian Islands and the Julia Tuttle Causeway.

Registration is $30 in advance and $35 on the day of. Watercraft are available for rental.

For additional information, click here to visit the Kommona Paddle Race event site.

9:00am - CHURCHES IN THE GROVE MINI-WALK - Join the Churches in the Grove Mini-Walk as it begins at 9:00am at Plymouth Congregational Church located at 3400 Devon Road, Coconut Grove, Fl 33133. Can't make it to the Mini-Walk but would like to donate to their team, click here to visit their fund raising page at AIDS Walk Miami.

10pm - KILL AIDS / AIDS WALK MIAMI PRE-WALK RECEPTION

Meet and greet the 24th Annual AIDS Walk Miami Grand Marshal "Sam Champion" at the KILL AIDS Campaign Launch and AIDS Walk Miami Cocktail Reception on Miami Beach.

A spectacular evening under the Miami moon presented with the support of Scott Hauser.

This event is open to the public. For additional information, click here to visit the Kill AIDS website.

Sunday - April 22nd

8:00am - AIDS WALK MIAMI AT MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER

Join thousands for the 24th Annual AIDS Walk Miami 5k walk-a-thon fundraiser at the Miami Beach Convention Center (Hall C) 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Fl 33139.

Click here for a route map including water stops. Click here for a map of the Botanical Gardens Post-Walk event site.

Indoor and Outdoor registration opens at 8am and the Walk begins promptly at 9am - Rain or Shine! Then join us after for the post-walk celebration sponsored by MTV and featuring MTV DJ Mauricio Parra and a live 1 hour performance by LOS IMPOSTORS.

Visit with our sponsors and vendors as you stroll the all new Botanical Gardens. Complimentary refreshments provided courtesy of our sponsors, Care Resource and Food For Life Network.

FINAL TOP TEAMS & TOP INDIVIDUALS
RESULTS AS OF FRIDAY - APRIL 20, 2012

Congratulations to this week's Top Individual fundraisers and Top Teams. Your generous support and efforts in fighting HIV/AIDS in our community is greatly appreciated. Keep up the great work.

The top three teams are invited to lead off the walk from the Miami Beach Convention Center. Remember that this is a great photo opportunity and company teams can use this as a way to advertise their business' participation in AIDS Walk Miami.

Great job everyone and top teams, don't forget your matching shirts!! We will see you all at the Walk on Sunday morning.

INTRODUCING THE 2012 WATER STOP SPONSORS
KEEPING YOU HYDRATED ONE STEP AT A TIME!

Care Resource and AIDS Walk Miami are proud to announce the support of the following businesses as the Official Water & Hydration Sponsors for the 24th Annual AIDS Walk Miami. As these businesses reach out to support the thousands of participants of the walk, we encourage you to do the same. Please visit their web sites by clicking on their logos and discover what they have to offer you. Click here to download, view or print the route map.

STOP #1- Drexel Avenue and Espanola Way

Powerade - Care Resource and AIDS Walk Miami wish to welcome POWERADE as the first hydration station along the route of the 24th Annual AIDS Walk Miami on Sunday, April 22nd. Like a top-notch personal trainer, POWERADE will help you max out your time, quench your thirst and replenish minerals and carbohydrates that are lost during sports or other intense activities.

STOP #2 - 12th Street and Washington Avenue

Miami Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce - The MDGLCC mission is to promote a unified and thriving, gay and gay-friendly, business and professional community throughout Miami-Dade County. Their goals are to promote networking within the existing gay and gay-friendly business and professional community, promote business opportunities for Chamber members, promote Miami as a year-round, gay-friendly destination, provide resources for their members, and provide outreach from their community to other organizations.

STOP #3 - 6th Street and Lummus Park

The Park Central Hotel - Known as "The Blue Jewel" along Miami Beach's famed Ocean Drive, The Park Central Hotel is an oceanfront, pastel-hued Art Deco classic where old-school charm and elegance meets modern, contemporary indulgence. Built in 1937 and fully restored in 1987, the renowned Park Central Hotel is more than just a hotel - it's a Miami landmark whose rich history whisks you back to a time where glamor trumps glitz, service reigns supreme and the "Golden Era" energy that made Miami the famed city it is today, is very much alive and buzzing.

STOP #4 - 12th Street and Lummus Park

The Palace - Now in its 24th year, the Palace is the first and only gay restaurant/bar on Ocean Drive. Located at 1200 Ocean Drive in the heart of the Art Deco District, the Palace has entertained countless men and women for decades. The Palace recently commissioned the creation of a Rainbow Pride flag, which was presented to the City of Miami Beach GLBT Business Enhancement Committee. The 50-pound flag, measuring 20 feet by 80 feet, will be made available for use by other organizations, including Miami Beach Gay Pride, of which Palace is a major sponsor.

STOP #5 - Lincoln Road east of Collins Avenue

The Ritz-Carlton South Beach - Catering to the most discerning guests, dignitaries and celebrities visiting South Florida, the Ritz-Carlton South Beach is located within walking distance to Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road and South Beach's nightlife. The hotel features 375 guest rooms, two pool side lanai wings in the style of early Miami Beach and a selection of three dining options available for a culinary experience like no other.

STOP #6 - Meridian Avenue and Lincoln Lane North

Clear Health Alliance - Clear Health Alliance is a health plan for people on Medicaid who are living with HIV/AIDS. Members of the plan can see highly trained HIV/AIDS doctors. Clear Health Alliance also helps members get community services to help them stay well. Family members in the Medicaid program may also be able to join the plan, even if they do not have HIV/AIDS. To learn more about Clear Health Alliance, speak to your health care provider or click here to visit their website.

PETS WELCOME AT THE WALK
REMEMBER TO HYDRATE BEFORE DURING AND AFTER

For those of you wondering, the Walk is a pet-friendly event, provided your pet is friendly.

Pet Friendly registration tables are located just outside the entrance of the Convention Center and are available for those who bring their pets for the Walk. Please remember that no pets are allowed inside the Convention Center unless they are service animals.

You should always keep in mind that a 5K (3.1 mile) walk can be very hard on animals not accustomed to walking such distances or in the heat. While we take great measures to ensure that our walkers don’t suffer from heat exhaustion or dehydration, we do not have veterinarians or animal experts’ on-hand.

Please keep your pet’s best interests as your top priority! Remember to bring a bowl or dish that you can provide for your pet to hydrate from before, during and after the Walk. Water is provided at six locations along the route and at the MBCC and MBGG venues.

PARKING FOR THE AIDS WALK MIAMI EVENT
AVAILABLE BY THE HOUR OR BY THE DAY

If you have ever visited the City of Miami Beach on a weekend or for a special event and tried to park your car in a city owned garage, chances are you were asked to pay a flat rate for the day. But did you know you can pay hourly instead for up to 8 hours? You heard right!

The City of Miami Beach recognizes AIDS Walk Miami as a special event and increases the parking rates on that day at their garages. This usually fits most events without a problem but when you are only spending 3-4 hours on the beach to attend the Walk, you might want to consider paying by the hour.

When you park your car in a city owned / operated garage facility, let the attendant know you are only there for a few hours and wish to pay by the hour. If you plan to stay on the beach longer than 8 hours, you might want to consider paying the flat rate to cover you for the day.

The parking garage of choice for the AIDS Walk fundraiser is located at 17th Street and Convention Center Drive and is the closest to the Miami Beach Convention Center - Hall C entrance, Lincoln Road and many other attractions.

The 5 story parking garage facility can accommodate up to 1460 vehicles and is open 24 hours a day. For more information, please visit the City of Miami Beach Parking Department's web site - click here

GREAT PRIZES FROM OUR COMMUNITY
FOR THE TOP INDIVIDUALS OF AIDS WALK MIAMI

AIDS WALK MIAMI and Care Resource wish to thank our family of sponsors, organizations and individuals below for their generous prize contributions and donations for the 24th Annual AIDS Walk Miami fundraiser.

		Grand Prize Two Round Trip Tickets on Delta Airlines to any of the 48 contiguous United States. This prize is courtesy of Orbitz Travel. Retail Value $2500

		2nd Place Three nights and four days stay in Miami Beach at any of the Crest Group Hotel properties. Retail Value $525

		3rd Place Admission for four to Disney's "Lion King" Broadway Musical at the Adrienne Arsht Center. Valid from May 15 - Jun 10. Retail Value $318

		4th Place World Famous Sunday Brunch for Four at Nikki Beach Club on Miami Beach. Retail Value $225

		5th Place Two "SeaTrek Reef Encounter" Gift certificates for the all new experience at the Miami Seaquarium. Retail Value $198

		6th Place James Dean original framed print (measuring 16"x20") generously donated by Milic Fine Arts. Retail Value $150

TOP TEAM PRIZE In addition to the individual prizes above, the team who raises the highest donations this year will score Seven (7) cases of assorted Muscle Milk flavors in Ready-to-Drink 14 oz. bottles to share and enjoy and delivered right to your door. Retail Value $280

All prizes listed above will be awarded to the top fund raising individuals and team one week after the Walk and the winners will be announced in the following issue of this newsletter.

OUR SPONSORS

Flying Pig Ranch Studios, Mango's Tropical Cafe, Lords at Nash South Beach, Beacon Hotel,

Great Care Pharmacy, Orbitz, Print Farm, Crest Group Hotels, Wire Weekly, Monster Sound Productions, AT&T, Educating Hands School of Massage, Elite Island Resorts, Muscle Milk,
Miami Seaquarium, Nikki Beach and Milic Fine Arts.

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