Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry came together recently for the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest AIDS organization. The event took place on the eve of World AIDS Day (December 1) at L.A.’s famed Shrine Auditorium and featured a spellbinding performance by Grammy-winning singer Mariah Carey.
Ne-Yo
The show opened with a dance performance by AHF Partner Debbie Allen and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. AHF Partner and award-winning music producer DJ Khaled performed a set that included a surprise guest performance by Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Ne-Yo. Vonzell Solomon, “American Idol” Season 4 finalist, gave a stirring live performance. Emmy winning host of “Extra” Mario Lopez and Daytime Emmy-winning actress/transgender activist, Laverne Cox, served as hosts for the evening.
Lavern Cox + Mario Lopez
During the event, AHF presented The Chris Brownlie Community Champion Award, named in honor of gay political activist and AHF co-founder Chris Brownlie, to Impulse Group United, its international advocacy and empowerment group dedicated to promoting healthier sexual lifestyles among young gay men in 20 cities around the world. 19-year-old singer/songwriter Verlla Vee, grand prize winner of AHF’s National Jingle song contest, performed her winning original song about HIV/AIDS during the concert’s pre-show.
The free concert in Los Angeles is part of a series of events across the world to continue to spread awareness about HIV and AIDS. The activities will include free concerts in Haiti, Mexico City and the United States as well as free awareness and testing events throughout the U.S., Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Asia.
Vonzell Solomon
“It’s not an everyday occurrence to have a group of the world’s most talented stars put on a free concert to draw attention to the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS. We were so honored to have Mariah, DJ Khaled, Ne-Yo and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy join us in Los Angeles to celebrate World AIDS Day and the 30th anniversary of AIDS Healthcare Foundation,” said AHF President Michael Weinstein. “As we look back on how far we’ve come over the last 30 years, modern medicine has made enormous leaps and bounds so that now, if you are in treatment and undetectable, you cannot spread HIV/AIDS. AHF is more determined than ever to hold the U.S. and the international community accountable to keep their promise to end the global AIDS epidemic so that people around the world know to be tested, learn their status and have access to resources to the medications and resources needed to keep people living with HIV in treatment and healthy.”
December 1 is World AIDS Day
According to UNAIDS, over 36 million people are living with HIV/AIDS around the world. Each year 2 million people become infected with the virus and 1 million people die of AIDS-related causes. While millions of people today are accessing lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, millions more still desperately need it. The end of the epidemic is only possible, if governments and world leaders Keep the Promise on AIDS.”
See more images below of performances and celebrity attendees:
DJ Khaled
Harmony Samuels + Ryon Nicole Brown + MAJOR.
AHF President Michael Weinstein
Ne-Yo
Timon Kyle Durrett
Mariah Carey
Photo Credits: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for AHF