AHF Presents Free World AIDS Day Concert on 1 December, 2017 Featuring Sheila E., Yandel and Becky G.; San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz To Appear for Special “Call to Action” Presentation
In commemoration of World AIDS Day and in celebration of its 30th Anniversary, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a global HIV/AIDS service organisation, will host a free concert event hosted by comedian Aida Rodriquez and featuring Grammy-nominated artist and actress Sheila E., Latin Grammy Award-winning reggaeton artist Yandel and hot, new singer-songwriter Becky G on Friday, 1 December at Miami’s Bayfront Park Amphitheater, located at 301 Biscayne Blvd.
The event will feature a special presentation by Carmen Yulin Cruz, Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Mayor Cruz will give an update on Puerto Rico, sharing the current needs for recovery of the island and a “call to action” for further community support. AHF Southern Bureau Chief Michael Kahane and members of the foundation’s Board of Directors will also present Mayor Cruz with the 2017 Humanitarian Award for her ongoing courageous and heroic leadership following hurricanes Irma and Maria. In addition, the foundation will also launch the next phase of the Power 2 Puerto Rico fundraising campaign for its ongoing hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico. It will make a dollar-for-dollar match for all funds that are raised during the concert.
Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and the show will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are free by registering at AHF.org.
“We are very excited that these amazing artists are joining us as the foundation celebrates 30 years of community impact and continues to create ongoing awareness around the needs that still exist as we work to address the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic, especially in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. We are equally as pleased that San Juan Mayor, Carmen Yulin Cruz will join us as we both honour her for her courageous leadership and continue to raise funds at the concert to further support the critical needs of the people of Puerto Rico. The cameras have all gone away, but the dire needs of the island are continuing to grow, and AHF is committed to continue to lead the charge in keeping the community engaged in supporting our fellow citizens,” said AHF Southern Bureau Chief Michael Kahane.
The Miami event is a part of a series of global activities the foundation will present to both commemorate World AIDS Day on 1 December and celebrate its 30th anniversary as it continues to spread awareness about HIV and AIDS. Other events include free concerts in Los Angeles, Haiti and Mexico City as well as free awareness and testing events in local communities throughout the U.S., Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Asia.
“This year’s World AIDS Day is particularly meaningful for AHF because it marks several historic milestones for us, including the foundation having over 829,000 patients in our care around the world as we celebrate our 30th anniversary this year. When it began as the AIDS Hospice Foundation in 1987, we were facing dire circumstances and a lot of uncertainty at the beginning of the epidemic. Each day we were fighting just to keep AIDS patients from having to die in the streets or overcrowded hospitals. Today, even though millions of people with HIV worldwide are thankfully living longer, healthier lives due to access to better medical treatments, the urgency of winning the war against AIDS here in the U.S. and around the globe has diminished. Our hope is that our big concert events will help keep the spotlight on the need for nations to keep their promise to do all they can to stop HIV/AIDS from claiming additional lives,” said AHF President Michael Weinstein.
According to UNAIDS, over 36 million people are living with HIV/AIDS around the world. Each year 2 million people become infected with the virus and 1 million people die of AIDS-related causes. While millions of people today are accessing lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, millions more still desperately need it. The end of the epidemic is only possible, if governments and world leaders Keep the Promise on AIDS.
