RED RIBBON GALA RAISES AWARENESS AND PROMOTES ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ON HIV/AIDS
December 1st this year marked the 28th World AIDS Day, it also marked the first Red Ribbon Gala organized by ShanghaiPRIDE, Q-Events, and the Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai.
“We are proud to be associated with the LGBT community and we trust that the Red Ribbon Gala will be a small contribution to the growing awareness of the need of further HIV research and support in China”, said Henk Meyknecht, General Manager of the Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai.
Over 120 esteemed guests arrived at the charity gala to show their support on the campaign to raise awareness and fight discrimination against HIV/AIDS.
Guests were greeted by the all-new BMW 7-series displayed at the hotel entrance before they were ushered to the reception at Havana Club where they were served cocktails made by the Stoli vodka crew. As soon as guests were seated, a light & laser performance opened the evening proper followed by a moving video presentation made of narratives of HIV/AIDS patients who faces discrimination. A four-course dinner ensued with speeches, a choir performance, video presentations by UNAIDS, RNW Media, and ShanghaiPRIDE, and raffle draws during intermissions.
During the opening speech, Zhou Yi, Director of AIDSLIFE Center, described HIV/AIDS as not only a health problem but also a societal one. Discrimination against those infected by HIV/AIDS and even volunteers or employees who work at care centers remains at large. Companies refuse hiring and hospitals refuse basic treatment of individuals who have HIV/AIDS. He emphasized that much regulation is needed to provide better medical and care services for patients and their families.
The Shanghai Hyberbolic Choir entertained guests with acapella renditions of “Don’t Be Afraid” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” The choir, founded in 2012, is committed to building a high-quality platform to help young people who love music enrich their spare time, improve music literacy, experience the chorus art, and advocate positive life attitude. They advocate tolerance and acceptance through participating in charity events and contributing their effort to creating public awareness and building a harmonious society.
Before the evening was over, Quincy Pu, 2015 Miss Earth China Zhangjiang Goddess & Talent Award Winner and 2015 Miss Earth China Top 5 & Talent Award Winner, shared her experience visiting AIDS patients at the Public Health Clinical Center. She explains that patients do not only suffer physically, but mentally as well. She urged everyone not to discriminate against patients, care-givers, and especially families of patients because families have big responsibilities to care and support them.
This gala benefits AIDSLIFE Center, a local organization that provides care and counseling for HIV/AIDS patients, raises awareness and support from society, and promotes tolerance and anti-discrimination of the infected. Of the ¥50,000 raised, ¥43,300 came from ticket sales, ¥4,600 from raffles sales, and ¥2,100 from auctioned items. Funds raised from the gala will be used to improve the life quality of severe AIDS patients such as helping them purchase basic daily necessities during hospitalization and urgent medication.
The charity gala was sponsored by The BMW Group, RNW Media, Time Out Shanghai, City Moments, City Weekend, Danlan.org/blued, the L and supported by Stoli Vodka, Miss Earth China, ASC Fine Wines, Earth Water, and Ms Paris. RNW Media gave gift-bags to every guest. More than 20 food & beverage, beauty, fitness, and lifestyle businesses donated raffle prizes. Table buyers include Angle Communications, CareerXFactor, Jun Gonzales, Studio 188, and Lucca390.
Lin Tao, Co-Founder of Q-Events said, “We are pleased to see so much support from kind and generous sponsors and guests. The gala is just one step of a journey to increase awareness; we need to continue the journey.”
“We are grateful for the volunteers who helped in making this gala a success”, added Raymond Phang, Director of ShanghaiPRIDE after he thanked all guests for their participation and contribution to those in need.
With the success of the evening, the organizers hope the Red Ribbon Gala Dinner held in conjunction of World AIDS Day will be an annual charity event on the Shanghai social calendar. They would like to invite partners from corporate, media, and health communities to join together and make a greater impact on the cause.
Photos
Guests at the gala
Guests at the gala
Guests at the gala
Guests at the gala
Director of AIDSLIFE center, Zhou Yi, speaks at red ribbon gala
General Manager of Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai, Henk Meyknecht, picking winners of raffle prizes
Miss Earth China Zhangjiang Goddess 2015, Quincy Pu, shares her experience visiting AIDS patients
