I presume that means they're doing this one and next year they will not be renewed, but I for one am glad. Pallotta had stopped making the ride something I could feel good about contributing my time to. Two years ago, Reed said it was very much about AIDS and helping our friends. Last year, when I did it, it was about personal triumph and "Changing the world". Uh. I didn't do the ride to change the whole world, I did it to help take care of sick people some of whom are my family members. And for the record, I was completely pissed off when Pallotta sent me a huge expensive coffee table sized glossy promotional book of all their other rides so I could support other causes. Um, I don't care about suicide. I actually want it to be legal and people who want to should be able to off themselves without pain. I do care about breast cancer, but not so much. I'm not interested in giving of my time or money on that scale to almost anything but AIDS and Pallotta's poorly spent money just pissed me off.
I'm glad Whitman Walker and Food and Friends fired them. They missed the point completely somewhere. Clearly, at some point, they were doing real good and then their focus changed. The marketeers moved in like sharks and making more money for Pallotta is what became important. Anyhow, if Food and Friends and Whitman Walker want a ride without Pallotta next year, I'm in.
Posted by karen at May 30, 2002 12:00 AM