Valdez to be keynote speaker at fundraiser chaired by Atkinson
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| Sara Hickman |
Austin-based singer, songwriter, activist, and philanthropist Sara Hickman will be the featured entertainer at this year’s "Bloomin’ Ball … sowing seeds of hope," the AIDS Interfaith Network’s largest annual fundraiser.
Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez will be the keynote speaker at the event, which will be hosted by Fox 4 News Anchor Baron James. Community advocate Steve Atkinson is chair, and Parkland Foundation Board of Directors Chair Veletta Forsythe Lill and Edelman Public Relations Executive Vice President and Regional Manager Teresa Henderson are honorary co-chairs.
Local performers Buddy Shanahan, Gary Floyd, Denise Lee and Anton Shaw will also perform live at the event.
The event will also feature the presentation of several awards, including the 2009 Crystal Hope Award, given to businesses, individuals, organizations or faith groups that have made a significant impact on HIV/AIDS in North Texas and that collaborate with AIN. Recipients of this year’s awards are from the faith community, the Episcopal Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, and Carolyn Webber, co-owner of FastFame and a longtime member of the AIN board.
Proceeds from the event benefit the programs of AIDS Interfaith Network, which support more than 1,700 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, and make more than 20,000 contacts with at-risk people to provide HIV prevention education.
Bloomin’ Ball begins with a VIP reception and silent auction at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at the Westin Park Central Hotel. The Ball itself opens at 7 p.m. and will include a seated dinner and the performance by Hickman starting at 8 p.m. Sponsorship packages are available at the $1,000, $1,750, $2,500 and $5,000 levels, which all include a table for eight. Sponsorship at the $10,000 level includes two tables for eight.
Table packages at $800 are also available. Individual tickets are $100 for VIP seating and $75 for premiere seating. Seating is limited at all price levels.
For information on sponsorship, securing a table, purchasing tickets, donating to the silent or live auction or how to become involved contact Blake M. Peery by phone at 214-943-4444, by e-mail at bpeery@aidsinterfaithnetwork.org or through the AIN Web site at aidsinterfaithnetwork.org.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition February 20, 2009.