Go Eat, Go Drink, Go Out® is
an annual, one-day fundraising event where Los Angeles area restaurants and
businesses donate 15% or MORE of their day's revenue to Aid for AIDS
and The Serra Project to help prevent homelessness and hunger for
individuals and families impoverished and disabled by HIV/AIDS. This
year, support includes entertainment venues, among other, from
downtown and the beaches to the San Gabriel Valley and the San
Fernando Valley. Many
restaurants have returned every year, and some increased their
donation percentages.
2010 was
our 16th year. The fundraiser was held on Thursday, February 25th.
Thank you to everyone. See the website for our supporters and
sponsors. Keep them in mind when making plans to go out this year.
GoEatGoDrinkGoOut.org
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World AIDS
Day - December 1st
Aid For AIDS is
proud to annually partner with the City of West Hollywood on World
AIDS Day.
In 2010, a
presentation and reception were held at 'Gallery 825' in West
Hollywood on December first, World AIDS Day. AFA Board President
Brenda Goodman addressed the crowd along with Maria Da Silva of the
Jacaranda Foundation, CNN Hero 2008, who was introduced by
Ricki Lake. The City gave the 2009 Paul Starke Warrior Awards to
several individuals, including Brenda Goodman. See details:
World AIDS Day -
Aid For AIDS homepage.
To order a
plaque along the West Hollywood Memorial Walk for a loved one,
contact the Development staff: 323-656-1107.
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AFA 25th Silver Anniversary
Reception and Award Presentation - November 5, 2009
On November 5, 2009, Aid For AIDS
celebrated its 25 years of service at a reception and awards
presentation at the beautiful SLS Hotel on the edge of Beverly
Hills. The event was attended by many major donors and supporters
and was covered by TV's The Insider, featuring interviews with
long-time AFA supporter Kathy Griffin and others.
AFA Angel Awards were presented in
several categories. Foundation Honoree:
The David Bohnett Foundation; Bridges-Larson Foundation, Jack
Larson; Entertainment AIDS Alliance;
QueensCare and its President and CEO,
Barbara Hines. Event Honoree: John
Bowab; Alexis Pitman,
posthumously, and the Founders and Producers of Battle the Tiara
and Best In Drag Show.
Community Honoree: Mayor Abby Land;
Stephen Simon. Entertainer
Honoree: Kathy Griffin;
Kathy Kinney;
Charlie Sheen. Individual
Honoree: Dr. Mark Honzel. Corporate
Honoree: Squire, Sanders and Dempsey, LLC. Board
Honoree: J. Alexander Strautman and Kevin Spier.
Read more and see photos of Aid For
AIDS Silver Anniversary here.
See ET/The Insider TV video
interviews at Aid For AIDS Silver Anniversary Reception, including
Kathy Griffin.
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Best In Drag Show
- October 18, 2009
For
2010: Best In Drag Show will be held on Sunday, October
24, 2010 at the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los
Angeles.
2009 PHOTO
LINKS BELOW.
Seven
outrageous contestants joined Master of Ceremonies, Patrick Rush,
and a bevy of "beautiful" showgirls at the Orpheum Theatre on Sunday
night, October 18, 2009 to compete for the title of Miss Best In
Show. The extravagant event, a benefit to help raise funds for Aid
For AIDS (AFA), was in its seventh year as Best In Drag Show,
however, the fundraiser, originally named Battle for the Tiara,
began twenty years ago. The 2009 pageant played to a full house, and
ten celebrity judges laughed all the way to the crowning of Miss
Best In Show. This year, Miss District of Columbia, Sybil Rights,
won the competition and also had the distinction of being the
pageant's first African-American contestant.
This
year, the contestants were a combination of hilarious, touching and
non-PC. Every year, it is obvious how much time, work and
investment go into creating the acts, costumes, props and back
stories of the "girls" who compete, as well as the set and costumed
showgirls. This year was no exception. The "talent" portion of
the show featured elaborate costumes, entertaining multi-media
productions, and singing, as well as crutches, knife-throwing, a
portable yellow brick road, and a super-condensed review of U.S.
black history from slavery to the White House. The "blind"
contestant actually took a tumble off the front of the stage, and
for a moment, most of the audience gasped, thinking that it was not
planned. The contestants were Miss California - Patrick Marks as Jan
Brady, Miss D.C., - Johnathan Wallace as Sybil Rights, Miss Kansas -
Glen Alen as Wendy Twister, Miss Louisiana - Bob Burnett as Ariel
Vieux, Miss Nebraska - Jim Crane as Braille Senters, Miss Nevada -
Marcos Bellet as Ivana Poker, and Miss Ohio - John Pascal as Marsha
Dimes. Although all contestants were wildly appreciated by the
audience, Miss D.C., Sybil Rights, was crowned before a house that
clearly agreed with the judges' choice.
2009
Judges included Jennifer Coolidge, Anna Faris, Camryn Manheim, Jayma
Mays, Mary-Louise Parker, Chris Pratt, John C. Reilly, Molly
Shannon, Holland Taylor, and Jo Anne Worley. Following a red carpet
entrance with press and media coverage, the judges were introduced
individually at their seats to thunderous applause. Molly Shannon
took the stage to read a message about the essential work done by
Aid For AIDS.
Between
contestant segments, the show's color commentators, Jeffrey Drew as
Lotta Slots and Todd Sherry as Ida Dunham, ripped apart the
contestants as only two divas can do - leaving the audience laughing
and groaning with their outrageous remarks.
This
year also featured a tribute to Master of Ceremonies, Patrick Rush,
a long-time producer and show participant. After performing as emcee
for 18 years, he is stepping down from that position. Patrick was
one of the founders of the event, originally named Battle for the
Tiara.
Many
thanks are given to the show's underwriters, the volunteer
contestants, crew, and Irish Setters (showgirls), the celebrity
judges, the many supporters and sponsors, the additional event
volunteers, the Orpheum Theater, the donors at the show, and
everyone who bought tickets. With your amazing support, Aid For AIDS
received more than $300,000 to continue its work.
2009 Aid For
AIDS Best In
Drag Show photos here!
Best In Drag Show 2008:
Photos
from 2008 Aid For AIDS Best In Drag Show
Photos:
Aid
For AIDS Best In Drag Show 2007.
Photos:
Aid For AIDS Best In Drag Show 2006.
Celebrity judges from all versions of this famous fundraiser -
Battle for the Tiara, Quest for the Crown, and Best In Drag Show
Aisha Tyler, Camryn Manheim, Caroline Rhea,
Cassandra Peterson (Elvira), Charlene Tilton, Charlie Sheen, Chris
Kattan, Debbie Reynolds, Dita Von Teese, Eric Dane, Holland Taylor,
Jane Lynch, Jason Alexander, Jennifer Coolidge, Jennifer Tilly, Jeri
Ryan, Jo Anne Worley, John C. Reilly, Jon Cryer, Judy Tenuta, Katey
Sagal, Kathy Griffin, Kathy Kinney, Kathy Najimy, Kelly Rowan, Kim
Coles, Leeza Gibbons, Loni Anderson, Lori Laughlin, Marcia Cross,
Maria Menounous, Martin Sheen, Melinda Clarke, Molly Shannon, Nicole
Sullivan, Niecy Nash, Parker Posey, Perez Hilton, Peter Gallagher,
Rachel Bilson, Rachel True, Rebecca Gayheart, Sarah Chalke, Steve
Kmetko, Suzanne Westenhoefer, Terri Garr, and Tori Spelling
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