'Rent' Hosts Benefit At Canal Room For Ubuntu 5/14

On May 14th, 2008, RENT will host a benefit event at The Canal Room for Ubuntu Education Fund. As RENT moves towards its final performance, their "Seasons of Love: Big Give" is an exciting farewell project between RENT and Ubuntu Education Fund to honor the legacy of RENT's writer and creator, Jonathan Larson. The partnership will continue his mission to celebrate life in the midst of poverty, HIV and AIDS.

Founded in 1999, Ubuntu Education Fund's 56-person staff based in the townships in Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, serves 24,000 impoverished and vulnerable children and 15,000 families with life-saving HIV services and essential educational resources. 
 
The cast of RENT was inspired to support Ubuntu Education Fund following a recent visit to South Africa by original cast member, Anthony Rapp, and current cast member, Philip McAdoo.  While in South Africa, Anthony and Philip conducted a RENT workshop in Johannesburg for Ubuntu youth.  As a result, the goal of the evening is to raise $500,000 to support the multi-purpose hall and theater that will be part of The Ubuntu Centre, so that these types of activities can take place on a regular basis at Ubuntu Education Fund.

The cocktail party will be held at The Canal Room (285 W. Broadway, NYC) and will feature live music from AKOYA AFROBEAT.  An online auction and on-the-night raffle promise exclusive prizes and once-in-a-lifetime experiences with the RENT cast.  Guests will include past and present RENT stars.
  
So, in the spirit of ubuntu - a person is a person through other people - come celebrate with RENT and Ubuntu Education Fun, while continuing Jonathan Larson's belief that the arts can help people overcome deprivation through love, hope and healing. 
 
To purchase tickets and for more information, go to www.ubuntufund.org. All donations are tax-deductible and will help transform a community of love and hope.

To bid on items in the exclusive online auction that will take place leading up to the event, click here. Auction powered by CharityFolks.com.

If you are unavailable to attend the party on May 14th and would like to make a donation to Ubuntu Education Fund, please visit www.ubuntufund.org. To make sure your donation is part of RENT's "Seasons of Love: Big Give: initiative, please be sure write "BUILD THE UBUNTU CENTRE" in the designation line and dedicate the donation to "RENT and JONATHAN LARSON."