PHILADELPHIA, PA — After nearly four decades as a cornerstone of HIV awareness and fundraising, the AIDS Walk Philly is being officially retired. Organized since 1987, the walk brought together tens of thousands of participants and raised more than $18.5 million to fund prevention, treatment, and support services across the Greater Philadelphia region.
The decision to sunset the event follows the closure of the AIDS Fund in 2024 and comes amid rising costs, limited resources, and changes in HIV awareness and funding. To honor its legacy, Action Wellness will partner with the William Way LGBT Community Center to host an AIDS Walk Philly Retrospective on Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The retrospective, held at the William Way LGBT Community Center, will feature curated memorabilia, guided tours, refreshments, and a guest book for attendees to share memories. Past participants are encouraged to wear red or past AIDS Walk apparel. A suggested donation of $25 will support both Action Wellness and William Way programs.
Mary Evelyn Torres, Executive Director of Action Wellness, reflected on the decision. “We are incredibly proud to have been part of the impact that AIDS Walk Philly has had over the years in raising awareness and supporting individuals living with HIV. While we are sad to see this tradition come to a close, we look forward to continuing the work and honor the spirit of the Walk as we serve the community in other ways.”
Former AIDS Fund Director Robb Reichard emphasized progress. “We must all be thankful for the incredible advances in HIV prevention, care, and treatment that have brought us to this point. As we continue to strive towards the ultimate goal of getting to zero, I hope that the community will find other ways to support people living with HIV and honor the memory of those we’ve lost.”
The first AIDS Walk Philly, organized in 1987 by Penguin Place (now William Way), raised $33,000 and marked the start of what became the region’s largest HIV/AIDS awareness and fundraising event. Nearly 40 years later, organizers view its retirement as both an end and a full-circle moment, with its commemoration returning to its original roots.
“This is a full circle moment,” said William Way Acting Executive Director Darius McLean. “The evolution of this particular event has come to its natural conclusion, but the intersection of the work and mission of Action Wellness and William Way continues to be as important today as it has ever been.”
Funds raised through the retrospective will benefit both organizations, supporting HIV prevention and services as well as LGBTQIA+ community programming.
For details and RSVP information, visit actionwellness.org.
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