Eat. Sip. Bid!

at Jerome Beillard Festival for Life on Saturday Nov 19, at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River Road (east of La Canada, north side).

“Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuveres, and a no-host bar while viewing and bidding on more than 600 pieces of artwork, one-of-a-kind experiences, and gift packages featured in the Festival for Life live and silent auctions”, now in its 23rd year.

5:30 p.m. event registraton
6:00 p.m. silent auction dorrs open
7:00 p.m. live auction begins

Auction items include a trip for 2 to Bali, Mexican vacation packages, framed artwork by local artists Gail Marcus-Orlen, Liz Vaughn & Wil Taylor, framed photographs by Betsy Leacock and Lorraine Darconte, a ballet-themed Christmas tree, gifts baskets.

Each year, Festival for Life features more than 80 framed Paper Prayers for bids in our silent auction as well as 100s more unframed for sale at $10 each. Paper Prayers are created by artists, SAAF staff, clients, and volunteers and are one of the highlights of each year’s event. In Japan, when someone is ill, friends and family bring pieces of artwork on strips of paper, the traditional gift to inspire good health.
Bidding on framed Paper Prayers begins at $40.

Featured entertainment by Flam Chen, the Street Minstrels, Jose Luis Puerta.
Moderated by Lupita Murillo, KVOA Channel 4, and Bobby Rich, 94.9 MIX fm.

More info: www.festvalforlife.org or call 520-628-7223. All proceeds benefit SAAF, the Southern AZ Aids Foundation, www.saaf.org. It’s fitting to use these paper prayers to aid in the healing of SAAF’s clients.

Tickets are $25 in advance (purchase online) or $35 at the door.

December 8, 1989 was the first Festival of the Trees, a fundraiser for the People with AIDS Coalition of Tucson (P.A.C.T). The event auctioned off nearly 200 decorated trees and wreathes for the holiday season. Over the years, the event grew and in 1992, Festival of the Trees became Festival for Life adding artwork, menorahs, and celebrity items. That year also had a special appearance by Miss Mary Wilson, formerly of the Supremes. In 1995, P.A.C.T.’s co-founder and Executive Director, Jerôme Beillard, passed away from AIDS complications and Festival for Life was renamed to the Jerôme Beillard Festival for Life – honoring the work and spirit of a great man. Each year added amazing artwork, designer Christmas trees, gift baskets, celebrity items and sculptures. Each year also added local sponsors and community members all supporting the same cause.

Can’t attend but want to support Festival for Life? Make a $10 donation by texting “SAAF” to 20222 on your cell phone.

Aidswalk 2010 banner

22nd Annual Aidswalk coming up on Sunday October 17, early morning at University of Arizona mall (schedule below):

7:00 registration & check in
7:30 10K fun run starts
8:15 Daybreak Quilt opening ceremony
9:00 Aidswalk 5K walk opening ceremony
9:30 5Kwalk starts
10:00 entertainment begins – food, fun, kids’ activities, music

Register online at www.tucsonaidswalk.org , please help fundraise & support this event.
Or call Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) at (520) 628-7223 or Toll Free: (800) 771-9054.

Fellow blogger “Rainbow Ramblings” encouraged people to participate in Aidswalk yesterday: click here.

Thousands of people turn out for this event every year to fight the battle against AIDS. And I usually walk in memory of my friend F. Leo Brown (of Connecticut & New York) who died from AIDS back in 1991 at age 49.

Walk the Walk!

“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PEOPLE OF COLOR FESTIVAL – SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

Tucson, AZ – The 5th annual People of Color Festival takes place on Saturday, September 11th from 8:00am-1:00pm at the Northwest Neighborhood Center (2160 North 6th Avenue, south of Grant Road).

This festival, focusing on the promotion of health and wellness among African Americans and the medically underserved of Southern Arizona, is sponsored by the Coalition for African American Health and Wellness, and features free entertainment, games, food, health and safety exhibits, workshops, health screenings, activities for kids, and door prizes.

The People of Color Festival supports efforts to reduce health disparities as part of Arizona Healthy People 2020. Our theme: “Wellness, Mind, Body, and Soul,” and our keynote speaker, Dr. Cheryl Ritenbaugh, University of Arizona Professor of Family and Community Medicine, will open the session around 10:00am with her presentation “Complimentary, Alternative, and Traditional Medicines: Systems of Care Focused on Wellness for the Whole Person.” Following her will be panel presentations on Mind, Body, and Soul.

“We’re excited about this year’s event that will bring together resources to help people of color and others who are medically underserved address their well-being and get information and support to become better stewards of their own health and our community’s health,” said Mary F. Stoute, president of the Coalition for African American Health and Wellness.

One of the highlights of the festival will be the presentation of Harriet Tubman Vanguard Awards to seven outstanding and unwavering supporters of community health and wellness:
Community Health Activist: Sheila H. Parker, MPH, DrPH
Community Health Educator: Paul Appleby
Community Health Provider: Nicola Finley, M.D.
Community Health Volunteer: Mary F. Stoute
Community Organization: SAAF (Southern Az Aids Foundation)
Faith-Based Organization: Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
Community Health Policy Advocate: Linda Leatherman

The 2010 People of Color Festival sponsors include Community Partnership of Southern Arizona, La Frontera Center, SAAF, El Rio Community Health Center, Pima County Health Department, Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN), Tucson Southern Arizona Black Chamber of Commerce, and Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.”

About the Coalition for African American Health and Wellness: “Our mission is to promote healthy living and improve the overall quality of life for African Americans and medically underserved people in the Tucson community.”

For more information, visit www.caahw.org or contact Mary F. Stoute, President of the Coalition, at (520) 471-6481 or maryapple@aol.com.

I’ve been to this festival in the past (being a so-called “Person of Color”) and there was lots of helpful health & well-being information for all minority populations.

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