Joan Rivers, world-renowned veteran comedic genius, entrepreneur and runaway star of this season's The Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump on NBC, will conduct a comedy show to benefit Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS at Gila River Casino's Wild Horse Pass, Sunday, June 28, 2009.
Ms. Rivers' show will benefit Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS, the oldest and largest nonprofit agency in the Southwest to provide the combined services of prevention, education, wellness, research and community alliances. Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS serves 70 percent of Arizona's nearly 13,000 residents infected with HIV/AIDS who live in the metro-Phoenix area, in Maricopa County.
"We are honored that Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS will be the beneficiary of this event," noted Carol Poore, Southwest Center's president and CEO. "Ms. Rivers is passionate about providing support services to individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS. It's only because of her exemplary work and that of other private donors that AIDS service organizations can offset the profound reductions in federal funding for HIV/AIDS support services in the United States."
In 2008, Southwest Center saved Arizona taxpayers an estimated $16 million in avoided hospital stays through prevention, wellness and research services. Through community education initiatives, the center reached out to more than 25,000 individuals who are at-risk for obtaining and transmitting HIV and AIDS.
In honor of Ms. Rivers highly anticipated appearance, Mayor Phil Gordon has proclaimed June 28 as "
Joan Rivers Day." The event will include silent and live auctions, including the chance to bid on an autographed microphone, jewelry from Ms. Rivers' popular line of Apprentice Jewelry, and the opportunity to meet Ms. Rivers before the show.
Ms. Rivers is widely admired for her chutzpah and high-energy persistence. Most evident on this season's The Celebrity Apprentice, she surpassed decades-younger competitors when she took the title as winner during the season finale's three-hour episode on May 10. The Emmy-winning talk show personality, actress, best-selling author, writer, screenwriter and comedienne has become an American icon.
Presented by R Entertainment Company of Scottsdale, Ms. Rivers will be featured on Sunday, June 28 at the Wild Horse Pass Casino Showroom at 8 p.m. The evening's show opener is Steve Ansel and the Jackson Street Band. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $45, $60 and $80, and are available at
www.ProTixOnline.com, or by calling 1.866.9ProTix (1.866.977.6849). Tickets are also on sale at the Wild Horse Pass gift shop.
Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS is Arizona's oldest and largest nonprofit AIDS service organization providing a combination of prevention, research and wellness support to serve 70 percent of Arizona's nearly 13,000 residents infected with HIV/AIDS who live in the metro-Phoenix area, in Maricopa County.
Since 1988, Southwest Center has been on the front lines addressing a steady increase in the demand for HIV/AIDS testing and counseling, prevention education, wellness support services, and clinical trials to help Arizona men, women and teens impacted by the disease.
In 2008, Southwest Center saved Arizona taxpayers an estimated $16 million in avoided hospital stays. Through our community prevention and education initiatives, the Center reached out to more than 25,000 individuals who are at-risk for obtaining and transmitting HIV and AIDS.
In 2008, we provided 110 participants with new, life-saving medications through the Southwest Center's 15-year clinical trial program. Our clinical trials research program has helped bring 24 of the 26 available HIV/AIDS drugs to market.
Southwest Center is ready to help the 4,300 Arizonans who are HIV-positive and are not aware of their disease because they are not yet diagnosed.
As our Valley continues to grow, unfortunately the cases of HIV/AIDS continue to grow as well. In 2008, Southwest Center's HIV testing program has grown by 26.9 percent over the prior year.
Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS has successfully sought private fundraising despite losing more than $600,000 in federal support during the past three years due to shifting federal priorities. Southwest Center also has recalibrated its service model to include vibrant partnerships and new ways of developing a resilient community through client and volunteer engagement with the Center's services and volunteer opportunities.
Photo credit: Walter McBride
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