Posting by Leah
More than 500 supporters attended the highly anticipated 12th Annual Love Heals at Luna Farm in Sagaponack, New York, on Saturday, July 9, 2011, and more than $300,000 was raised for the Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS Education.
Chandon sparking cocktails welcomed guests that later enjoyed a barbeque, hot dogs, tasty libations, sweet treets, silent auction and music by DJ M.O.S. This benefit themed Coney Island Comes to the Hamptons featured a popular Patron Margarita Bar and rollercoaster photo booth providing guests with the ultimate glamour shot experience as guests lined up for this entertaining photo op.
Co-hosts for the evening included Hilary Rhoda, Mary Alice Stephenson and Peter Davis who were joined by New York Rangers Sean Avery and Brad Richards, mogul Russell Simmons, Love Heals co-founder Dini von Mueffling, and many of their friends and supporters.
Love Heals, the Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS Education, empowers young people in the fight against HIV. Their HIV-positive speakers are putting a face on the epidemic, and their youth empowerment programs are training a new generation of community educators and activists. Love Heals also creates and distributes educational materials, shares its expertise and advocates for young people’s right to HIV/AIDS education. Love Heals operates in partnership with hundreds of schools and community groups throughout New York City and the surrounding areas, reaching both young people and those individuals who impact their lives, and placing a special emphasis on outreach to high-risk communities.
Alison Gertz, the inspiration behind the organization, was infected with HIV through a single sexual encounter when she was 16. Soon after discovering she had AIDS, Ali made her story public in an effort to help others and quickly rose to become an internationally recognized spokesperson for AIDS awareness and prevention. After Ali died in 1992, her three best friends—Stefani Greenfield, Victoria Leacock Hoffman and Dini von Mueffling—continued her mission by cofounding Love Heals. Today, the foundation reaches more than 40,000 young people each year. For more information please visit www.loveheals.org.
