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Penn & Teller Challenge Sets New Fundraising Record at Aid for AIDS of Nevada’s 22nd Annual AIDS Walk Las Vegas

Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) hosted the 22nd Annual AIDS Walk Las Vegas at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) on Sunday, April 15. For the 11th consecutive year Strip headliners Penn & Teller served as Grand Marshals and led the Penn & Teller Challenge AIDS Walk team (Photo credit: Las Vegas Photo and Video). 

Photo credit: Las Vegas Photo and Video.

The Penn & Teller Challenge set a new fundraising record with a total of $276,000 raised and counting, not including Penn & Teller’s final dollar for dollar match. Of the 9,276 total walkers at the event, 1,623 participated in the Penn & Teller Challenge, making 2012 the Challenge’s most successful year to date.

Photo credit: Las Vegas Photo and Video.

AFAN also welcomed new fundraising partner, Walgreens in 2012. Throughout March, local Walgreens stores raised $71,510 for the AIDS Walk, which was presented to AFAN during the event’s opening ceremonies.

Photo credit: Las Vegas Photo and Video.

As AFAN’s largest fundraiser of the year, all proceeds from the AIDS Walk will go towards assisting and educating more than 4,000 men, women and children infected with HIV and AIDS in Southern Nevada. Total money raised for this year is still being processed at this time.

Photo credit: Las Vegas Photo and Video.

Walkers at the 22nd Annual AIDS Walk enjoyed lots of sunshine and outstanding entertainment throughout the day, including performances by Strip headliners Melody Sweets of Absinthe, Sean & John Scott of VEGAS! The Show, Iouri & Nikolai of V The Ultimate Variety Show and the casts of Fantasy and Thunder from Down Under. Music was provided by DJ Axis throughout the day, and additional entertainment was provided by Las Vegas’ own glee club On with the Show, School of Rock, HunnyPot and the Desert Pines Marching Band.

Photo credit: Las Vegas Photo and Video.

The Walk was co-hosted by KLAS 8 News Now Anchor and Master of Ceremonies Chris Saldaña along with CBS Radio personalities Lauren Michaels of 98.5 KLUC, Dustin Carlson of X 107.5 and Mark & Mercedes of Mix 94.1.

Various government officials came to the event to show their support for AFAN, Nevada’s oldest and largest nonprofit dedicated to serving the HIV/AIDS community in southern Nevada. Mayor Carolyn Goodman and Congresswoman Dina Titus addressed the crowd, speaking on the importance of funding and awareness for HIV/AIDS in Las Vegas. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley’s office also sent a representative to express her support of AFAN.

Following the closing ceremonies, participants stayed at UNLV for the post-Walk picnic and Food Truck Roundup. Eleven of Las Vegas’ most loved food trucks turned out to support AFAN and feed the thousands of hungry walkers, including: BBQ Boy, Charlie’s Lunch, Chi-Town Hustler, Fat Daddy’s Ice Cream, Grouchy John’s Coffee, Redneck Kitchen, Roamin’ Dough, Sin City Wings, Tasty Bunz, The Rusty Pickle and Hawaiian Shaved Ice.

This year’s AIDS Walk was the largest single crowd in the event’s history and is expected to have raised more funds than ever before. Final numbers will be released soon.

About AFAN
Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) was founded in 1984 and is the oldest and largest AIDS service organization in the state of Nevada. 2009 marked AFAN’s 25th anniversary of practicing its unyielding commitment to the community by providing unparalleled health expertise, support and advocacy for adults and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Nevada. Over the years, AFAN has created various programs that offer consistent and comprehensive assistance including direct client service programs, food programs, prevention and education programs and community outreach. As part of AFAN’s mission, these client service programs assist in enhancing the physical health and psychosocial wellness of the individuals they serve, while promoting dignity and improving the quality of their lives. For more information, please visit www.afanlv.org.  Keep up with AFAN events and news on Facebook and Twitter.