Landeros)*
When: Saturday, February 10th 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Where: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels 213.680.5200 Conference Center
555 West Temple Street Los Angeles, CA 90012-2707
Who: Michael Weinstein, President, AIDS Healthcare Foundation Jessie Gruttadauria, Director of Public Affairs U.S. and Latin America, AIDS Healthcare Foundation Miguel Angel Reyes, Silent Auction Coordinator,
Artist Recruiter and participating artist * The evening will also feature a performance by East L.A. spoken word
artist, Marisela Norte
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 9 // -- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the US' largest provider of HIV/AIDS healthcare, prevention and education and operator of free AIDS treatment clinics in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, presents Amigos y Amantes (Friends and Lovers), an art exhibition and auction to benefit its free AIDS treatment clinics in Mexico -- in Tijuana, Puerto Vallarta and soon to open in Cancun. Showcasing the work of notable and emerging Latino artists, this lively celebration of Latino art and culture will take place on Saturday, February 10th from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Conference Room in downtown Los Angeles. Entrance is $25.00 and includes complimentary appetizers and no host bar. Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at http://www.aidshealth.org. Entrance fee is applied to first bid. Among the over thirty Los Angeles-based artists who have generously donated work to be auctioned at this Valentine's Day-themed event are well-known portrait painter, muralist and illustrator, Miguel Angel Reyes, multi-media artist Diane Gamboa, and painters Carlos Vargas, Tony de Carlo, Joey Terrill and Ana Landeros.
"With a mission to provide cutting-edge medicine and advocacy regardless of a person's ability to pay, AIDS Healthcare Foundation is proud to partner with respected Mexican government and non-governmental organizations to bring free HIV/AIDS medical care and lifesaving anti-retroviral treatment to communities in need through our free AIDS treatment clinics in Mexico," said Jessie Gruttadauria, AHF's Director of Public Affairs U.S. and Latin America, who has spearheaded the Foundation's projects in Mexico. "At AHF, we don't accept the tale of two cities where a person with AIDS in Southern California may have whatever they need and the same person on the other side of the border in Mexico is not even receiving basic life-saving treatment. We would like to thank the artists involved in Amigos y Amantes for generously donating their finest artworks to raise funds to help ensure that all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to the care and services they need regardless of nationality or income level."
AHF opened a clinic in Tijuana, Baja CA, MX -- its first in Mexico -- in October 2005 in partnership with the AFABI (Agencia Familiar Binacional, A.C.), a respected, local Mexican non-governmental organization. This free clinic is Mexico's first community-based comprehensive HIV/AIDS clinic and currently provides lifesaving anti-retroviral therapy and clinical care to people living with HIV/AIDS in the region. In November 2006, AHF opened a second free AIDS clinic in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, MX in partnership with Vallarta Contra el SIDA and federal, state and local government bodies. A third AHF clinic in Mexico is expected to open mid-February 2007 in Cancun located in the state of Quintana Roo.
"As AIDS Healthcare Foundation strives to improve access to HIV prevention and testing services, medical care and anti-retroviral therapy in Mexico, I am honored to do my part to help raise funds for this important cause," said Miguel Angel Reyes, Silent Auction Coordinator and Artist Recruiter for Amigos y Amantes, as well as a participating artist. "As a Latino artist whose family emigrated from Mexico, it is especially meaningful to me to have the opportunity to give back to the community in this way. My greatest hope for Amigos y Amantes is that all attendees not only get the chance to discover new and exciting Latino artists, but also have the opportunity to be a part of the lifesaving work that AHF does."
There were roughly 180,000 people in Mexico living with HIV in 2005 according to UNAIDS. The Mexico's social security institutions offer free HIV/AIDS care; however, those individuals not covered by social security often face difficulties in accessing both testing services and life-saving anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs). It is hoped that AHF clinics serve as a safety net for care and services for some of those not eligible for care elsewhere in Mexico or the US' healthcare systems.
Amigos y Amantes sponsors include Frontiers Magazine and KABC Talk Radio, 790.
About AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Based in Los Angeles, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the US's largest provider of HIV/AIDS healthcare, education and prevention and provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy, regardless of ability to pay to over than 50,000 people in the United States, Asia, Latin America/Caribbean and Africa.
AHF Global brings lifesaving anti-retroviral therapy to developing and resource-poor countries including: South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, India, Cambodia, China, Honduras, and Mexico. Our approach is simple: we work with local organizations and train local people to provide ARV treatment. Our innovative AHF Medic Program trains non-medical personnel to assist doctors and nurses in proving HIV/AIDS treatment. This enables the physicians to see more people, thereby improving access to care. For more information, visit http://www.AidsHealth.org.
