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For Immediate Release
December 14, 2004
MOVE AGAINST AIDS: RETURN OF THE DANCE-A-THON RAISES $750,000
New York, NY — Nearly 3,000 New Yorkers put on their dancing shoes at
Move Against AIDS: Return of the Dance-a-thon on Saturday, December 11, 2004.
The Dance-a-thon, held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, raised
over $750,000 for Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) and its HIV/AIDS programs.
"Move Against AIDS proved to be a successful fundraiser as well as a very
uplifting, high-energy event," said Ana Oliveira, Executive Director of GMHC.
"We are thrilled to have created such a perfect opportunity for so many young
people, from diverse backgrounds, to join forces with Dance-a-thon veterans
and show their personal commitment to making a difference against AIDS by being
a part of the solution — and to have fun while doing it."
Internationally renowned DJ's Beverly Bond, Peter Rauhofer, Danny Tenaglia,
Tony Touch, and Junior Vasquez kept the crowd dancing throughout the night, along
with musical performances by 3LW, Kevin Aviance, and Martha Wash. Other special
guests taking part in the event included Vinnie Brown of Naughty By Nature, Wilson
Cruz, Alan Cumming, Power 105's Egypt, "106 & Park's" Free, poet Shailja Patel,
Rosie Perez, and Jai Rodriguez.
"The HIV epidemic in the United States is a rapidly changing public health
emergency, and we must address the exploding rates of HIV infections among young
people," said Move Against AIDS Producer Craig R. Miller of MZA Events. "Move
Against AIDS is an innovative way to raise awareness and re-invigorate our response
to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We are honored that these world-class entertainers have
united to reach out and inspire a new generation of AIDS activists."
As special thanks for their star support, each artist was presented with a
glamorous gift bag by Klein Creative Communications to help them dance the night
away. Inside the bag were tanning sessions from Airbrush Tanning by Sunchelle,
a collection of safe sex treats from Pure Romance, designer fashions from Rufskin
and Samantashoes.com, Vy and Elle urban bags, plus other luxury treats from Chocolove,
Intimo, King Street Sounds, MetroNaps, NextArcade, 180 by Anheuser-Busch, Smarts
Co., Sol Chicks, Sukhari, Teaology, Voyant, and XCD by King of Shaves. One of the
goodie bags, specially autographed by the Dance-a-thon's celebrity guests and filled
with items valued at approximately $1,200, will be auctioned on eBay to raise additional
funds for GMHC.
Move Against AIDS: Return of the Dance-a-thon was produced by MZA Events and
is one of many events in its long legacy of successful AIDS fundraisers, including
AIDS Walk. New York City's first AIDS Dance-a-thon, launched by Miller and MZA
Events in 1990, was an all-star show and dance party that immediately appealed
to a wide and diverse base of participants. Move Against AIDS: Return of the
Dance-a-thon was sponsored in part by Delta Airlines, NBC 4, KTU 103.5 FM, Power
105.1 FM, HX Magazine, Metro Newspaper, New York Blade News, and Next Magazine.
Move Against AIDS benefits Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), the nation's oldest
AIDS service and advocacy organization. GMHC is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported
and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against
AIDS. GMHC provides services and programs to over 15,000 men, women and families that
are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in New York City. For more information, please
visit www.gmhc.org.
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Contacts:
Lynn Schulman, GMHC: 212.367.1210
Andrew Sousa, Move Against AIDS: 212.807.9255
© 2004 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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