HIV advocates will come together this weekend to support Philadelphia FIGHT and pay tribute to all those who have lost their fight with the disease.
FIGHT will host its annual We Remember Gala from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 2 at The Racquet Club of Philadelphia, 215 S. 16th St.
The gala has been held since 1996 and this year will recognize the 20th anniversary of FIGHT, as well as the 30th year of the epidemic.
While the event serves as a fundraiser, FIGHT director of development and communications Mark Seaman noted that it also has a deeper function.
“We call it ‘We Remember’ for two reasons,” he explained: “We want to remember all the people that the world has lost to AIDS over the past 30 years and then also remind people that HIV is still going on and still a challenge in 2011. We can’t grow tired of doing prevention or research and we want people to remember that.”
To support those messages, FIGHT will display portions of the AIDS Quilt, on loan from AIDS Fund.
The event will also feature cocktails and food, performances by a live jazz trio and a silent auction.
Seaman said support from the community for the auction has been impressive — with donations ranging from tickets to museum and theater events to artwork, jewelry, restaurant gift certificates and electronics, such as an iPad.
Guests will also have the chance to hear from Dr. Luis Montaner, an HIV specialist at the Wistar Institute, who will address the current state of HIV research, with a special focus on the implications of FIGHT-sponsored research efforts.
Seaman said FIGHT expects about 150 people to attend and organizers are looking to raise $50,000 from the event.
Tickets, starting at $100 per person, will be sold at the door and guests are encouraged to RSVP by visiting www.fight.org/donate or by calling 215-525-8628.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].