The New Zealand AIDS Foundation is extending a warm thank-you to all New Zealanders who supported its World AIDS Day street collections and events to the tune of $66,200. A variety of events and collections helped make up this year's sum, surpassing last year's total by just over $11,000. Street collections in central Auckland and Wellington raised $6,500 and $18,000 respectively, with teams of volunteers and NZAF staff working from dawn to dusk shaking buckets and raising awareness about HIV and AIDS. A further $1,700 was received from ticket sales and collections at the RED dance parties held in Hamilton and Christchurch. All monies raised from these events go towards the NZAF Wellness Fund, which provides direct individual care and support for those living with HIV and AIDS. In Auckland, the annual Queen of the Whole Universe pageant broke all previous records to raise just over $40,000, playing to an audience of 1,700. Over 150 volunteers are involved in the making of this show, which has now raised over $100,000 for non-government funded NZAF projects and HIV positive peer support groups in the last four years. "We couldn't have achieved such a fantastic result without the support of our wonderful teams of volunteers all over the country, and all New Zealanders who contributed so generously to our events and collections," says NZAF Executive Director Rachael Le Mesurier. "This major cash injection is a great Christmas present for the people living with HIV and the peer support networks who will benefit, and will allow us to produce resources – such as our new HIV/AIDS – what are they? booklet – which aren't funded by government. Thank you again for your support."