D.A.P. to commemorate 30 Years of AIDS on December 1
Posted November 18th, 2011 – Press Releases
(PALM SPRINGS, CA – November 18, 2011)
December 1, commonly observed as World AIDS Day, marks the beginning of December as AIDS Awareness Month. This year is especially significant because it marks the 30th anniversary of the first cases of AIDS diagnosed on June 6, 1981. Conceived by the World Health Organization, World AIDS Day was first observed on December 1, 1988.
By then, Desert AIDS Project had already been founded more than four years earlier, as a local, all-volunteer response to what had become a worldwide pandemic. Last year, D.A.P. served over 2,200 PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS,) offered HIV prevention education to 6,000 individuals, and conducted over 1,500 free and confidential HIV tests at a variety of locations targeting at-risk populations.
“At D.A.P., we use the ‘think globally, act locally’ philosophy to put our missions of care, prevention, and advocacy to work every day because HIV/AIDS continues to be a very significant problem here in our community,” said David Brinkman, CEO of Desert AIDS Project. “Psychosocial and economic disparities contribute to HIV transmission and act as barriers to care. In much of our service area, PLWHA are nearly twice as likely to live below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level, six times more likely to suffer from mental illness, and 15 times more likely to be homeless, compared to the general population.”
D.A.P. encourages the entire community to join them for events throughout the day on Thursday, December 1 to mark World AIDS Day. The following week, “SPARKLE! An All-Star Holiday Concert,” will be held in the Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum, beginning at 7:00 PM to benefit client services at Desert AIDS Project.
Desert AIDS Project serves people living with HIV and AIDS by providing comprehensive support, including medical care, case management, and social services, like food, housing, and counseling. D.A.P. also offers free and confidential HIV testing at a number of locations throughout the communities it serves. To learn more about Desert AIDS Project, please call 760-323-2118, visit www.desertaidsproject.org or find them on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
World AIDS Day
Thursday, December 1
Desert AIDS Project
1695 N. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs
30 Years of AIDS Memorial Wall
All Day
Anyone may post photos or leave messages for those who have passed from HIV/AIDS. Memorial Wall featured in D.A.P. lobby throughout December.
EZ-103 Radio Remote, Live with Dan McGrath & Vicki Steele
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Interviews with clients, supporters, and volunteers. Radio listeners are invited to make donations in someone’s honor or in memory of someone who has passed from AIDS.
Open House with Tours
11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Learn more about the 17 programs, all under one roof, offered by D.A.P. that make it a unique AIDS service organization: medical and dental clinics, housing and food assistance, mental health programs, a Client Community Center, and so much more.
Short Program & Lighting of the Building
4:30 to 5:00 PM
Client observations and songs by Caballeros, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Palm Springs, and Nicholas Snow, international AIDS activist.
Dinner and Film Screening with Panel Discussion
Buffet dinner for clients and volunteers. RSVP to 760-969-5743.
Screening of Still Around: 30 years of AIDS, 15 stories of hope, a collection of short films, followed by a panel discussion led by Daniel Cardone, D.A.P. volunteer and director of one of the short films
SPARKLE! An All-Star Holiday Concert
benefiting Desert AIDS Project
Wednesday, December 7
6:30 PM – Silent Auction
7:00 PM – Show
Annenberg Theater
Palm Springs Art Museum
Hosted by Scott Nevins
Award-winning TV personality, comedian, host of TruTV’s hit show, “The Smoking Gun Presents”, and Instinct Magazine cover guy
Stars of Stage and Screen:
- JoAnne Worley, legendary comedienne from “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In”, “The Drowsy Chaperone” and “Beauty and the Beast”
- Bobbie Eakes twice Emmy-nominated star of “All My Children” and “The Bold and the Beautiful”
- Wilson Cruz of “Grey’s Anatomy”, “My So Called Life” and “RENT”
- Milena Govich of “Law and Order” and “Cabaret”
- Ginifer King of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”, “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior” and “Gypsy”
- Max von Essen of “Les Miserables”, “Dance of the Vampires” and “Xanadu” national tour
- Erin Quill of “Avenue Q”
- Von Smith of “American Idol” and “The View”
- Jen Malenke of “High School Musical: Get in the Picture” and “Into the Woods”
- Julie Garnye of “Hair: In Concert” and “Tinkerbell: the movie”
- Jessica Kennan Wynn of “Hairspray”
- Dionne Gipson of “Black Dynamite”
- Robyn Clark of “Gypsy”
Produced by Scott Nevins and Mark Jones, Brighthaus Marketing
Musical Director, Jesse Vargas
Tickets at SparklePalmSprings.com
$48 General Admission
$125 VIP Ticket, includes premium seating and after-party with hosted bar
Sponsors
Golden Angel: Canyon Pacific Insurance Services; DannInc Lifestyle Interiors; LIVE Magazine
Shining Star Sponsors: Trick Dog Films, Brighthaus Marketing
Bright Light Sponsors: Pacific Premier Bank, Technology Angelz, TRIO Restaurant, Tuesday Night Supper Club
Silent Auction items include autographed books, original art, a year of free dry cleaning, video marketing package, and much more
