December 2, 2014
AHF's "Evening of Celebration" Benefits World AIDS Museum
Winnie McCroy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
On December 2 at 8 p.m. in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation presents "An Evening of Celebration," benefitting the World AIDS Museum and Education Center.
Featuring a performance by the renowned 60-piece South Florida Symphony Orchestra joined by an internationally acclaimed soloist, this evening of celebration will recognize more than 50 healthcare professionals who have dedicated their lives to helping those with HIV/AIDS.
The World AIDS Museum idea grew out of the Fort Lauderdale based group "Pozitive Attitudes," a topic-driven support group for HIV-positive individuals. Steve Stagon, the facilitator who would later become the museum's founder, started creating historical HIV/AIDS exhibits as topics for the group. In the early days, these were displayed at the Pride Center of South Florida and Blanche Ely High School. HIV/AIDS exhibits by other artists had also been displayed at the Pride Center and the idea of a museum grew from there. In 2011, the museum was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The support of the community has grown steadily since that time. In 2012, a space in Wilton Manors was found to house the collection and exhibits made possible by a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Broward John C. Graves Charitable Fund. The mission of the World AIDS Museum is to increase awareness and decrease stigma of HIV/AIDS by documenting the history of HIV/AIDS, remembering the people who suffered from this disease, educating people about HIV/AIDS, enlightening the world to this continuing tragedy and empowering the survivors.
The benefit is presented as part of the Broward Center's Arts Access Program, which assists community-based organizations in presenting arts and cultural performances at the Broward Center. The program provides technical assistance and marketing support to local community groups enabling them to develop and build their audiences. Arts Access has collaborated with nearly 50 performing arts companies, nonprofit organizations and cultural and community groups to present all genres of the performing arts including music, dance, theater, poetry and comedy.
This benefit is a Broward 100 sanctioned event commemorating Broward County's centennial with bold, innovative art and performance projects that attract visitors and bring Broward residents together using our arts, sports and recreation venues, natural attractions and incredible diversity to creatively bridge, bond and build their communities.
Tickets are $40 to $60 with VIP tickets available for $150 that include a pre-show cocktail reception in the Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom at the Huizenga Pavilion from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center, Parker Playhouse and affiliated venues.
ADT Security Services, AutoNation, Bank of America, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Paramount Refreshment Solutions, Rick Case Automotive Group and Sun Sentinel are proud sponsors of the Broward Center.
"An Evening of Celebration" benefiting the World AIDS Museum and Education Center will be held at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2 in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $40-150. For information or tickets, call 800-745-3000 or visit BrowardCenter.org
Winnie McCroy is the Women on the EDGE Editor, HIV/Health Editor, and Assistant Entertainment Editor for EDGE Media Network, handling all women's news, HIV health stories and theater reviews throughout the U.S. She has contributed to other publications, including The Village Voice, Gay City News, Chelsea Now and The Advocate, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
