Events to Mark World AIDS Day

Events are planned around the Bay Area in the coming days to mark the 26th annual World AIDS Day.

As he prepared for the occasion, which commemorates the lives lost and the work that remains to be done in fighting HIV and AIDS, John Cunningham, executive director of the National AIDS Memorial Grove, spoke of Ebola. The recent outbreak of the disease in several West African countries has killed more than 5,000 people; two people who contracted the disease abroad later died in the U.S., where they were brought for treatment.

"I think that as we again approach World AIDS Day, it's incumbent upon all of us that have fought the fight over the last 30 plus years to not only remember those we lost far too young, but most importantly, as a community and a society, to make sure we apply the lessons learned both from the heartache and the struggle" and "based in love and compassion," Cunningham said in an interview. "As our society faces a new epidemic in the form of Ebola, we already see the stigma being placed upon that, and it's important that we who have already walked this path don't let it happen again."

The AIDS grove will hold its fifth annual Light in the Grove fundraising gala from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, November 30. The VIP reception is from 5:30 to 6:30. The grove is located in the eastern end of Golden Gate Park at the intersection of Bowling Green and Middle Drive East, across from the tennis courts.

The event will feature cocktails, dinner, music, and "brilliant displays of creative lighting throughout the grove," Cunningham said in an email promoting the event.

The grove this year is honoring Ken Henderson, executive director of the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation, and Joe Seiler, the group's board chair, with its Light in the Grove Lifetime of Commitment Award.

REAF began 20 years ago under Henderson and Seiler's leadership with Help Is On the Way: San Francisco Cares. Help Is On the Way has become "the Bay Area's largest annual AIDS benefit concert and one of the Bay Area's primary sources of funding for many local AIDS service agencies," according to the foundation's website.

In a brief call, Henderson noted the AIDS grove organization has honored "some pretty high-profile people, and we just feel very honored to be included in that kind of presence."

Seiler, who said the award is "really special," said REAF is "going to just keep trying to keep things going until there's a cure. That's the key thing."

Individual tickets for Light in the Grove are $200. Host level admission starts at $500 and includes the VIP reception. Tickets at both levels were available late last week, but Cunningham expected them to sell out by early this week.

Funds raised through the event ensure the continued maintenance of the memorial through it community volunteer workday program, allows the organization to produce its annual World AIDS Day observances, and support the Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship Program.

Funds will also be designated for the costs of making repairs following the "devastating vandalism" that happened at the grove this summer.

In one incident someone struck the Circle of Friends, where people's names are engraved in granite, as well as several memorial benches and trees. It appeared the vandal had used "large river rocks" to cause damage to approximately 70 names, "basically obliterating" them, Cunningham has said. The branches of several trees were also broken off. Previous vandalism around the same time, which had mainly involved trees, had also been reported.

Officials believe the same person was responsible for the incidents, based in part on how the damage was inflicted, according to Cunningham, who said last week that the perpetrator hadn't yet been caught.

Since this summer, he said there hasn't been more vandalism at the AIDS grove. "Much of that is due first to the diligence and support" of the San Francisco Police Department, which had two officers monitor the area for 12 weeks. For the past four weeks, the AIDS grove has paid for two security officers to watch the memorial space. Cunningham estimated the cost for that security is $10,000 a month.

"The repair from the vandalism will begin in 2015," he said. "We're assembling a community advisory group that will help us to make certain decisions around certain pieces of damage." The panel will include park officials, loved ones of people honored in the grove's Circle of Friends, and others.

"It will not be made up of internal grove board or staff," Cunningham said.

He said the "total cost the grove will incur" for fixing the damage and paying for security will be about $250,000. The nonprofit is hoping the city will help with the expenses.

Monday, December 1, the official World AIDS Day, the AIDS grove will hold its World AIDS Day observance from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The program begins at noon. AIDS activist and actress Judith Light will be honored, as will Paul Boneberg, the executive director of San Francisco's GLBT Historical Society. Boneberg will receive the Thom Weyand Unsung Hero Award.

Weyand, the longtime former executive director of the AIDS grove, died in August at the age of 63. The cause of death was acute leukemia.

Also Monday, the Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship awards will be presented, and there will be a reading of names. A musical performance by Parris Lane will also be featured.

For more information, visit www.aidsmemorial.org

Gratitude in the Grove

Shanti Project, the San Francisco nonprofit that enhances the health of people living with HIV/AIDS or breast cancer by offering practical support and other services, will host an evening for current and former Shanti volunteers and other HIV/AIDS volunteer caregivers at the AIDS grove from 5:30 to 8 p.m. December 1.

"During the early days of the AIDS crisis in San Francisco, Shanti Project volunteers provided courageous love during the darkest of times; they exemplified the heart-felt response San Francisco is known for providing," the nonprofit said in a news release.

The free event will include celebratory dancing with legendary DJ Page Hodel following a short program.

People who want to attend may RSVP at www.shantialumni2014.eventbrite.com.

Questions may be directed to [email protected]. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/events/1500070733594281/

Your 'Do' Can Make A Difference

Hairdressers Against AIDS, which works with salon professionals worldwide, will be doing haircuts for men and women, blowouts, brow waxes, and other work to benefit the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

The event, which will include raffles and prizes, will be Monday, December 1 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Sola Salon, 660 Market Street, 2nd floor. Cuts start at $40.

Rebekah Nummer, a hairstylist and salon owner at San Francisco's Sola Salon studios, is teaming up with other salon owners to host the "glam-a-thon."

"When clients are having intimate conversations with us, we have real information" to share about HIV and AIDS, Nummer said of the group's efforts.

The hairdressers anticipate brining in at least $3,000 through the event, Nummer said. All the money will go to SFAF. No appointments are necessary.

Nummer may be reached at (415) 779-6866. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/events/1544934472388968