Washington Blade - June 21, 2002
Lou Chibbaro Jr.

Wearing bright red T-shirts, the mass of moving cyclists snaked its way from Pennsylvania Avenue to Third Street, then passed between spectators lining both sides of the Mall, concluding a 330-mile, four-day trek from Norfolk, Va.

Breaking with past years, officials with the Whitman-Walker Clinic and Food & Friends, the two local AIDS service organizations named as beneficiaries of the ride, declined at the end of the event to disclose how much money the riders raised, saying they would release a "preliminary" figure for the fund-raising event's gross income in August. Organizers have in the past withheld releasing only the figure for the net proceeds of the event, after expenses, until the completion of an audit in September or October.

This year's ride marked the last time that the controversial fund-raising company Pallotta Teamworks of Los Angeles would be producing the D.C. AIDS Ride. Whitman-Walker Clinic and Food & Friends announced last month that they would no longer retain the Pallotta firm as the producer of the event. Food & Friends said it would produce its own AIDS ride next year; Whitman-Walker said it would not participate, saying it would employ other fund-raising methods to recoup the money it has received from the popular AIDS rides since 1996.

"Because there were fewer riders than last year, we expect the net proceeds to be significantly lower," said Craig Shniderman, executive director of Food & Friends. "In light of that, we feel we should wait until we have all of our financial figures before we release any numbers."

Shniderman said Food & Friends has already begun plans for next year's ride. He said riders of past years who sat out this year's event have told him they plan to participate in 2003.

Ridership drops 45 percent

Last year's D.C. AIDS Ride drew 2,018 riders, pulling in more than $6 million in donations from riders and corporate sponsors and yielding $3,542,382 in net proceeds after expenses, which included a $225,000 fee for Pallotta Teamworks. Shniderman said an independent audit of the 2001 ride showed that the event yielded a return of 50.5 cents on every dollar raised, with 49.5 cents on the dollar going to overhead costs and fees.

According to figures released by Pallotta Teamworks, the 1,117 riders participating in this year's event represented the smallest turnout of riders since the Pallotta-produced ride began in D.C. in 1996. The figures show that 1,248 riders turned out in 1996, 1,445 participated in 1997, 1,393 participated in 1998, 1,723 turned out in 1999, and 1,626 turned out in 2000. The number of riders in 2002 dropped 45 percent from the record set in 2001.

Shniderman and Cornelius Baker, executive director of Whitman-Walker, said that while a number of factors may have contributed to this year's drop-off in riders, the most significant factor could have been a flurry of negative publicity surrounding the Pallotta firm's high overhead costs associated with the rides.

Shniderman said Food & Friends also received complaints from riders of past years that Pallotta Teamworks devoted too much attention and promotion to other Pallotta-sponsored events during last year's D.C. AIDS ride. Shniderman said those who contacted Food & Friends about this issue said the promotion of other events diverted attention away from those to whom the ride was dedicated -- people with HIV and AIDS.

In a break from past years, there were no signs or banners displayed from a stage at the June 16 arrival ceremony with the name of Pallotta Teamworks or other Pallotta-related events. Also missing were signs on the stage or insignias on rider T-shirts bearing the name of the Tanqueray liquor corporation, which has served for the past several years as a corporate underwriter of the D.C. AIDS ride. Shniderman said Tanqueray did not sign on this year as an underwriter, nor did any other company, although he said several small firms provided in-kind support and services as corporate sponsors.

Among those greeting the riders upon their arrival on the Mall this year was D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, who spoke from a stage. Baker, Shniderman and Kevin Mischka, a representative of riders with HIV, delivered remarks thanking the riders for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the Whitman-Walker and Food & Friends clients who will benefit from the money they raised. Brian Pendleton, a Pallotta Teamworks vice president, served as master of ceremony for the event, but Dan Pallotta, the company's founder, did not attend.

News reporter Lou Chibbaro Jr. can be reached at lchibbaro@washblade.com.

020621
WB020606

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2002. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2002. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .