A cocktail reception and check presentation were the perfect way to celebrate record-setting donations from this year's two-day, 200-mile bike ride for Emory Vaccine Center's fight against HIV.

The July 22 event at the Bill Lowe Gallery celebrated nearly $300,000 raised during Action Cycling Atlanta's annual AIDS Vaccine 200. In addition to the art, DJ beats and camaraderie, the riders, beneficiaries and guests were also privy to some heartfelt words about the cause.

Jerusalem House collected $35,000 in AV200 contributions, while Positive Impact accepted a donation of $2,500. Those amounts came in addition to the primary beneficiary check for $260,000 to the Emory Vaccine Center, which just recently received a $7 million award as part of a big-money federal plan to find an HIV vaccine once and for all.

But they weren't done handing out honors during the celebration event. Researchers who completed their fellowships as part of last year's AV200 donation collected certificates of accomplishment, and the vaccine center presented two plaques thanking Action Cycling Atlanta that will be displayed prominently at two Emory Vaccine Center laboratory locations on Emory's campus.