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MILWAUKEE – In 2007, a great entertainment line-up and
new features added to a more than 27,000 attendees at PrideFest,
the highest number on record at the time. In 2008, heavy rain,
thunder storms, and tornado warnings made attendance to the festival
drop to a little more than 20,000 attendees.
Now, in 2009, PrideFest not only exceeds last year's dismal
attendance, but also surpasses the record number of attendees
set in 2007. For the first time in PrideFest's history,
the festival drew in more than 30,000 attendees to the Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Festival.
"The numbers don't do the festival and the work
put into it justice," said PrideFest President Scott Gunkel.
"A record attendance of 30,084, and what looks so far as
a large profit. These numbers don't describe the feelings
of pride I have in each and everyone one of the team members and
volunteers. I started working with PrideFest back in 1988 having
visions of grandeur. Now, seeing them come to life, while actually
living in them, is an unbelievable feeling."
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PrideFest's annual food drive for the AIDS Resource Center
of Wisconsin (ARCW) also saw a significant growth this year. Festival
attendees donated slightly less food than in 2008 and more food
than in 2007. These non-perishable food items will contribute
to the health and well-being of those living with AIDS and HIV
across the state.
"This year, ARCW collected 12,000 pounds of donated food
at PrideFest," said Bill Keeton, ARCW's Director of
Communications. "I believe donations were down from 2008,
but only very slightly, and I believe up from 2007. We are so
grateful for the cooperation of PrideFest organizers and for the
generous contributions of PrideFest attendees!"
Gunkel said that all of these successes would have impossible
without the dedicated efforts of the production team. PrideFest's
production team is made up entirely of individuals who volunteer
their spare time — between work, family, and other facets
of their personal lives — to plan and organize the festival.
"The year of planning and meetings, while they seemed
endless, I look back at them with both honor having done them
and respect for all the others that joined me in them,"
Gunkel said. "We take much of our free time each year working
together from different cities and states to work for the same
result: a Festival that each of us can be proud to say, "I
did that. I was part of that success.' And what a success
it has been!" |
