The AIDSRides were a series of bike rides to generate funds for research and treatment of AIDS and related diseases.
History
The AIDSRides were a series of controversial fundraising events created and produced by Pallotta TeamWorks, which was founded by Dan Pallotta. Pallotta TeamWorks also created the AIDS Vaccine Rides as well as the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day events (which later became the current Breast Cancer 3-Day) which the company produced from 1998 - 2002. Pallotta TeamWorks' events grossed $562 million and netted $305 million for AIDS and breast cancer - more money raised more quickly for these two causes than any known private event operation in history. The company was the subject of a 2002 Harvard Business School Case study which investigated the link and controversy between private enterprise raising money for non-profits. The AIDSRides and AIDS Vaccine Rides netted more than $105 million after all event expenses for critical AIDS services and medical research.
Pallotta's organization was forced to close after the LA Gay and Lesbian Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundations decided to break their contract and created a similar event based off the same concepts. Since Pallotta's closure, several organized rides (AIDS LifeCycle, Empire State AIDS Ride, Wisconsin AIDS Ride, New Jersey Ride Against AIDS, etc). have appeared, mostly run by non-profits. [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2002/08/25/MN210975.DTL AIDS Ride firm closes its doors / Raised millions in Bay Area ] ] .
Ride List
Over the years, Pallotta TeamWorks produced several AIDSRides throughout the North American continent.[cite web |url=http://www.pallottateamworks.com/1_about/history_all.htm |title=About Pallotta TeamWorks |accessdate=2008-02-14 |work=Pallotta TeamWorks Website] ]# California: 1994-2002
In 2002 AIDS/LifeCycle was started, and has since filled the role started by and continued the good work started by the California AIDSRide.
# Boston>New York, 1994-2002
# Philadelphia to DC: Philadelphia, Pa. to Washington, D.C., 1996
TeamWorks was fined by Pa. Attorney General for improper fund raising. [http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2002/03/01/319484/index.htm]
# Heartland: Twin Cities to Chicago, 1996-2002
# Northeast: New York to Boston, or reverse, 1995-2002
# Texas: 1998-2002
# Alaska AIDS Vaccine Ride: 2000-2001
# Montana AIDS Vaccine Ride: 2001
# Montreal to Portland, Maine: 2001
# European AIDS Vaccine Ride: 2002
References
ee also
* Positive pedalers
* Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center
* San Francisco AIDS Foundation
* List of health related charity fundraisers
* AIDS/LifeCycle
* Empire State AIDS Ride
* Wisconsin AIDS Ride
* New Jersey Ride Against AIDS
External links
* [http://pallottateamworks.com/home.htm Pallotta TeamWorks] and [http://pallottateamworks.com/1_about/L_history.htm Pallotta TeamWorks history]
* [http://www.aidslifecycle.org/index.html AIDS/LifeCycle | 7-Day 545 Mile Cycling Event to Support HIV/AIDS Services]
* [http://rfac.org Ride For A Cause]
* [http://www.empirestateaidsride.org/ Empire State AIDS Ride]
* [http://www.actride.org/ Wisconsin AIDS Ride]
* [http://www.njrideagainstaids.org/ New Jersey Ride Against AIDS]
* [http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/SFAFCyclingEvent/SFAFEnduranceEventsTrainingProgram?fr_id=1050&pg=entry Seismic Challenge]
