APM does the Time Warp again

DETROIT – AIDS Partnership Michigan's 15th annual Time Warp fundraising event saw smaller numbers in attendance and funds raised even as the organization is grappling with budget cuts from state and federal funding sources.
Time Warp 2005: Carnaval Rio was held last Saturday at the Roostertail in Detroit. This year's Time Warp event took place as APM was having to cut back on staff due to drastic funding cuts, including a $144,000 cut in federal money for care programs.
Approximately 250 people attended the "creative" black-tie event which raised $130,000 net, a figure APM's Executive Director Barbara Murray said was preliminary. Last year's event was attended by approximately 300 people and raised over $180,000. The evening's live and silent auctions netted just under $30,000, also not a final figure. Last year's auctions brought in approximately $42,000.
Murray attributed the lower numbers to Michigan's poor economy but still considered the event a success.
"The buzz is very positive," she said Monday. "Most everybody I have talked with who was there had a great time and I would concur with that. We have to recognize that we mounted this event in a Michigan economy that still isn't on the level of recovery that has gone on in other sections of the country. With that said, it was very clear to us from the outset that we wouldn't make the kind of corporate sponsorship that we had last year and that we wouldn't have the kind of ticket sales that we had last year."
Murray is especially proud of the event committee's continued ability to keep the cost of the event down, making sure the bulk of the money raised actually goes to APM services and care.
"One of the reasons we have been so successful with net dollars is the ability of this committee to keep the actual costs of this event very low and in special event fundraising that is highly unusual," said Murray. "Usually our fundraising costs run between 12 to 15 cents on the dollar. That is nothing short of incredible for a special event fundraiser and that's part of how we've been able to put this munch money into program and prevention services."
This year's event's costs came to 14 cents out of every dollar raised, said Murray. "That's purely a tribute to all our fundraising volunteers and their ability to get the stuff donated."
The event saw many long time friends of APM continuing their support, including Nancy Gogo who took the "Rio Ravishing" dress code to the hilt in a dazzling beaded ensemble. Gogo said she's been a patron at APM fundraising events for the past 28 years. "It's a wonderful cause," she said.
During her address to the attendees, Murray reminded everyone why they were there that evening: HIV and AIDS. "It's real," she said. "It hasn't gone away. I wish it had."
Murray did share some promising news. "We've had a win," she said. "There's no reason for a baby to be born HIV positive any more." However, she said, "We need a vaccine."
Murray invited everyone to come to Lansing on May 18 to lobby with her. "Join us in Lansing May 18 when we try to remind the Michigan state legislature that there are people out there living with AIDS." Sometimes that's a challenge up there, she added.
Murray gave a brief overview of APM's work, stating that the organization helps hundreds of people with HIV/AIDS every year and educates 5,000 about prevention. "Three years ago we did that with a staff of 30 people. Today we do it with a staff of 18," she said. "But we will deliver."
Matt Cullen from General Motors Corporation was the event's honorary chairperson. He spoke briefly at the event, calling APM a "leader" in the fight against HIV/AIDS and urging attendees to support them in the face of shrinking federal financial support.
Top corporate sponsors of Time Warp this year included General Motors at $25,000 followed by DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund and Ford Motor Company at $10,000 each.