World AIDS Day has been observed every year on December 1 since 1987. Between 2011 and 2015 the theme is “Getting to Zero”, according to the World Health Organization. It’s a time to raise awareness, support our communities and push towards greater access to treatment for all. Here’s what’s happening in Puget Sound.
Stronger Together: The 9th Annual World AIDS Day Breakfast
Friday, November 30
7:30am – 9:00am
Washington State Convention Center
800 Convention Place
Seattle, WA 98101
206.694.5000
http://www.strongertogetherseattle.com
Five Seattle community service organizations will partner to bring you the breakfast, which is held the day before the international World AIDS Day holiday. The breakfast will focus on what it means as a community to stop the spread of AIDS. Actress Amanda Bearse will serve as the morning’s emcee. Amanda is best known for her role as wacky neighbor Marcy D’Arcy on Married… with Children. The keynote speaker is Steven Wakefield, the External Relations Director for the NIH-sponsored HIV Vaccine Trials Network with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Register online.
Rise n’ Shine’s 1st Annual World AIDS Day Happy Hour
Friday, November 30
5:00pm – 7:00pm
Seattle Design Center
5701 6th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98108
http://www.risenshine.org
Enjoy complimentary wine, signature drinks and light hors d’oeuvres. A suggested $25 donation will provide joy to a child during the holiday season this year. Plus, meet special guest Amanda Bearse, actor, writer and director, is well known for her role as Marcy D’Arcy on Married with Children and is currently serving on the board of The Names Project. Bearse has appeared on the cover of The Advocate and launched HRC’s National Coming Out Day in 1994, serving as their first ‘poster child’. Tickets are $25/person, availalble online HERE.
Starbucks RED Day
Saturday, December 1
Local Area Starbucks
http://www.starbucks.com
Seattle based Starbucks Corp. is donating a portion of its proceeds on World AIDS Day to help fight the disease. Starbucks will give five cents to the Global Fund of the RED foundation for each hand-crafted drink it sells on Saturday, December 1 in the United States and Canada. The coffee shop is also partnering with iTunes, offering a digital $30 gift card that is divided into two $15 certificates to iTunes and Starbucks. Five percent of the proceeds to those gift cards, sold online, will also be donated to RED. RED was founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver and links with brands to help raise money to fight AIDS. It benefits the Global Fund, which uses the money for HIV/AIDS programs in Africa.
World AIDS Day at the Tacoma Art Museum
Saturday, December 1
7:00pm
1701 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402
253.272.4258
http://www.piercecountyaids.org
This year on World AIDS Day, the Pierce County AIDS Foundation is celebrating 25 years of service to their community. You are invited to celebrate with PCAF, and hear about the vision PCAF has for serving people living with HIV in 2013 and beyond. Special recognition will be given to WA State Representative Jeannie Darneille, PCAF’s first Executive Director who served for 18 years, from 1989-2007. Registration is available online.
Special Service on World AIDS Day
Saturday, December 1
7:00pm
First United Methodist Church Seattle
180 Denny Way
Seattle, WA 98109
206.622.7278
http://www.firstchurchseattle.org
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to commemorate and unite in the fight against HIV. In solidarity, First Church will have a special service to honor those lives touched by the disease. Speaking will be the Assistant Director of Prevention Education at Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Renee McCoy, PhD.
Rainbow City Band Presents: Quodlibet – Music to Rejoice, Reflect and Remember
Saturday, December 1
7:00pm
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 Fourth Avenue N
Edmonds, WA 98020
425.275.9595
http://www.ec4arts.org
A concert for World AIDS Day, featuring the West Coast premier of Robert Maggio’s epic for concert band and chorus: “Quilt Panels; for my love, for my grief, for my letting go”. The performance of Quilt Panels will feature the Esoterics, a Seattle-based vocal ensemble. http://www.theesoterics.org. Tickets are available on-line or by phone at the ECA box office.
