Richard M. Brodsky Foundation

The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation focuses on raising awareness that while AIDS is a global health threat, it is destabilizing Africa. A LACK OF DOCTORS, MEDICINE, AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, CLEAN DRINKING WATER & NUTRITIOUS FOOD COMBINED W/ AN ABUNDANCE OF POVERTY, HUNGER, MALARIA & TUBERCULOSIS is the reason why 2/3 of the people dying from AIDS are from sub-Saharan Africa. This Foundation exists to: (1) Improve the lives of people affected by HIV and cancer both in Africa + America with a strong emphasis on helping orphans + kids; (2) Raise awareness to government, business + society that people living w/ HIV + cancer can lead healthy productive lives if they have access to medical care + medicine; (3) Encourage others living w/ HIV to disclose their HIV-status; (4) Encourage people w/ HIV + cancer to lead a healthy, upbeat lifestyle; (5) Provide meals/medical care for orphans in conjunction w/ World AIDS Marathon; + (6) Raise money for HIV + cancer cures

Richard Brodsky was diagnosed HIV+ in 1997; five years later he was diagnosed w/ terminal brain cancer. A year later he finished the 2003 NY Marathon. He realized he was blessed to have great medical care in America; why couldn't we help people in poorer countries? In 2004 the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation funded the World AIDS Marathon in Mbita, Kenya, whose proceeds helped fund an orphanage there. In 2021, the Foundation relocated the marathon to the Rockaway boardwalk in Queens, NY. This is the only marathon in North America (also a half, 10K and 5K) on World AIDS Day, Dec 1, 2026. A few days later, Richard and his wife Jodi, a team consisting of a nurse, doctor and other supporters travel to Kenya for our 19th mission for 10 days. They sponsor orphan dinner dances and provide medical care, art and music celebrations for special needs kids, and free 5K run walks in Dunga which faces Lake Victoria + another location to be determined. Doctors and nurses examine & treat orphans, oftentimes prescribe lifesaving medicine. Supporters have donated over a ton of clothing to these orphans. We also have obtained two grants for special needs kids from the Theresa Foundation for art lessons and music and dancing. We have sponsored 62 orphan dinner dances for 17,000 Kenyan orphans since 2006 and provided medical care, oftentimes lifesaving for 3,800 Kenyan orphans since 2011. Some organizations provide meals and other organizations provide medical care, but very few if any do both. Here is a link to a recent news release: https://conta.cc/3YnQkmH.

Richard enjoys writing videos and has had a few volunteers edit his content and write the video. He is very proud that two of his volunteers have gotten into medical school and credit volunteering as a major factor. Even Eliud Kipchoge, the only marathon runner to run a sub 2-hour marathon provided Richard with a video message wishing him well,

The Foundation also sponsors the only AIDS run or walk on Long Island, NY. May 31, 2026 will be the 19th annual 5K AIDS Cancer Run Walk in Baldwin Park. This was the first USATF run in the park. In 2026, there will be at least a dozen 5K run/walks. These events bring a lot of money into the Baldwin community and thousands of dollars are donated to charities. Here is a current news release about the May 31, 5K AIDS Cancer Run Walk. https://conta.cc/4bS69JS.

Says Mike Polansky, founder and former President of the Greater Long Island Running Club, “there is no harder working team of race directors on Long Island than Richard & Jodi Brodsky.” Says Richard, “I want to dispel the myth that people think if you are HIV+, you cannot accomplish anything.”