LONG BEACH : Walkers Raise $215,000 for AIDS Services

AIDS Walk Long Beach, the city’s largest fund-raiser for AIDS services, last month brought in about $215,000, the highest amount in its six-year history, officials said.

Officials have presented $120,000 to 14 Long Beach-based AIDS organizations and said they plan to distribute the remaining amount in June. The groups include Project Ahead, a counseling and service program for patients, the Christ Chapel Food Bank and several local AIDS hospices.

The event raised $25,000 more than in 1993, director Jeff Zimerman said. Individual and team walkers sign up more sponsors than in past years, and organizers were able to cut costs by securing more donations from area businesses, Zimerman said. AIDS Walk Long Beach, sponsored by ONE in Long Beach Inc., drew about 3,000 people this year.