AIDS Assistance Program Announces 2016 'Evening Under the Stars' Honorees
Contributions of Community Heroes to be Recognized at 23rd Annual Gala
March 3, 2016
AIDS Assistance Program – Food Samaritans (AAP) is pleased to announce several community leaders will be honored at the 23rd annual Evening Under the Stars gala, scheduled for Saturday, April 30, 2016, at 6 p.m. at the O’Donnell Golf Club in Palm Springs. The 2016 honorees include:
Senator Barbara Boxer (Jeannette Rockefeller Humanitarian Award), Terri Ketover (Gloria Greene Inspiration Award), Cathy MacNaughton (Herb Lazenby Community Service Award) and Jane Wagner (Joanna Jakway Community Hero Award). The new Corporate Angel Award will be given this year to Walgreens. For more about this year’s honorees, please see below.
“AIDS Assistance Program could not fulfill our mission without the dedication and support of the incredible people and organizations that support us,” said Mark Anton, CEO/Executive Director of AIDS Assistance Program. “Without their caring and inspirational guidance, we would not be able to support the nutritional needs of those low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses in our community. We are so very grateful for their unyielding kindness that they exhibit on a daily basis not only for AAP, but for many other organizations across the entire Coachella Valley.”
Gala festivities include a cocktail hour featuring innovative and refreshing drinks, delectable appetizers, inspirational honorees, a delicious dinner, exciting entertainment, dancing, and an amazing fireworks display. Tickets for the benefit, priced at $395 and $500 per person, are available for purchase, and individual VIP seats are also available. To attend, call AIDS Assistance Program at 760-325-8481 or visit aidsassistance.org.
Eisenhower Medical Center is the Presenting Sponsor of the event, and The Desert Sun is Presenting Media Sponsor. Additional major sponsors include Spencer’s Restaurant and Harold Matzner, Contour Dermatology, The Auen Foundation, MacNaughton Family Foundation, TRIO Restaurant, James R. Houston, Helene Galen, Ameriprise Financial, Scott Histed, Walgreens, Rich Young Design, Wade Endowment Fund, TIAA/CREF Financial Services - Donald Wolf, City of Palm Springs, and Donna MacMillian. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.
The event will feature the world-famous Village People as the evening’s primary entertainment. Formed in 1977, Village People have sold more than 100 million records worldwide and recently received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Known for their high-energy shows and mega-hits like YMCA, Macho Man, Go West, and In the Navy, they are the undisputed "Kings of Disco." Attendees will dust off their dancing shoes as this incomparable and beloved singing sensation will set the night on fire.
Evening Under the Stars was recently named “Most Fun Annual Event” and “Best Charity” in Desert Outlook magazine’s “Ultimate Pride List” contest, “Best of the Valley” in Desert Magazine’s competition and “Best Fundraising Event” in Palm Springs Life’s 2016 Best of the Best awards.
ABOUT THE AWARDS AND THIS YEAR’S HONOREES
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer - Jeannette Rockefeller Humanitarian Award
A forceful advocate for families, children, consumers, the environment and the State of California, Barbara Boxer became a United States Senator in January 1993 after 10 years of service in the House of Representatives and six years on the Marin County Board of Supervisors. In November 2010, she was reelected to her fourth term in the Senate. A national leader on environmental protection, Senator Boxer is the ranking member on the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Environment and Public Works and is the ranking member of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. She is a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where she chairs the first subcommittee ever to focus on global women’s issues and is a member of the Democratic leadership in the Senate, serving as the Chief Deputy Whip since 2005.
The Jeannette Rockefeller Humanitarian Award honors Jeannette Rockefeller, the founding president of AIDS Assistance Program. The award was established in 1997 to honor the humanitarian efforts of outstanding community members and recognizes individuals who have lent their energy, commitment, and influence to raise awareness and funding for important issues including HIV/AIDS. Previous recipients include R. D. & Joan Dale Hubbard, Tim Hanlon, Helene Galen, James Houston, Harold Matzner, and Betty Francis.
Terri Ketover - Gloria Greene Inspiration Award
With a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Miami, Dr. Terri Ketover's varied professional career has included a 9 year term as the Executive Director of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, and a long association with the City of Miami as a Special Consultant to the Chief of Police and City Manager, as well as a research appointment at the University of Miami’s Mailman Center for Child Development. She has been officially recognized by the Florida House of Representatives and the White House for founding the "Do the Right Thing" Program, a nonprofit organization with chapters in 53 cities throughout the United States as well as Germany and England. She currently serves on the board of Desert AIDS Project and chaired their 100 Women annual giving program, the Palm Springs International Film Festival, the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, is Vice-Chair of the Palm Springs Art Museum Annenberg Theater Council, and is Co-Chair of Michael Childers’ annual “One Night Only.”
The Gloria Greene Inspiration Award celebrates Greene’s insight, commitment and passion, illustrating the difference that just one person can make in their community. Prior recipients include Barry Manilow, Bob Hoven, Barbara and Jerry Keller, Dr. John Stansell and Gloria Greer.
Cathy MacNaughton - Herb Lazenby Community Service Award
Cathy MacNaughton has served as the Vice President of Administration and Regulatory Compliance for Managed Health Network, a managed behavioral healthcare company. She is active in various professional and charitable organizations and has served on the boards of the San Francisco Opera Guild, San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum, Diablo Regional Arts Association, Bay Area Arthritis Auxiliary, and Bay Area Community Resources. She has chaired numerous events and has been a long-time supporter of the AIDS Assistance Program and its Evening Under the Stars event.
The Herb Lazenby Community Service Award was created to recognize an individual’s outstanding commitment to service within their community. The award carries the name of its inaugural recipient, Dr. Herb Lazenby, whose name became synonymous with Community Service here in the Coachella Valley. Previous recipients include Lily Tomlin, Michael Childers, Brian Wanzek (aka Bella da Ball), Rabbi Sally Olins, Joyce Shampeny, John Williams and Richard DeSantis.
Jane Wagner - Joanna Jakway Community Hero Award
Jane Wagner, a distinguished American playwright, has won numerous awards, including two Peabody's, four Emmy's, a Writer's Guild Award for her work in television, and the seldom-given NY Drama Critics' Circle Special Award for her Broadway success, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. Wagner made her writing debut with the acclaimed CBS teleplay entitled J.T. and her book of the same title. In 1971, Wagner began working with Lily Tomlin on an Edith Ann album entitled Edith Ann: And That’s the Truth, which began an award-winning, creative alliance that has lasted for more than 45 years. She went on to write and produce two more Grammy-nominated albums, Modern Scream (1975) and On Stage (1977). Together, Wagner and Tomlin also produced six television specials as well as three animated specials that Wagner wrote starring the precocious Edith Ann. In 1977, Wagner wrote and directed Appearing Nitely, a one-woman show in which Tomlin made her Broadway debut. Wagner subsequently wrote the screenplay for the film The Incredible Shrinking Woman. More recently, Wagner has written and produced an HBO documentary entitled An Apology to Elephants.
The Joanna Jakway Community Hero Award was created in 2011 to recognize and honor the critical contributions of AAP co-founder and Palm Springs resident and community activist Joanna Jakway. At the 2011 Evening Under the Stars, in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the founding of AIDS Assistance Program, the inaugural Joanna Jakway Community Hero Award was given to Jackie Lee and Jim Houston in honor of the countless lives they have touched. Additional honorees include John Federbusch, Gary Frey and Steve Kaufer.
Walgreens - Corporate Angel Award
Walgreens is one of the largest drugstore chains in the U.S., with more than 8,000 stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company’s vision is to be America’s most-loved pharmacy-led health, well-being and beauty retailer while championing everyone’s right to be happy and healthy. It has been a long-term supporter of the AIDS Assistance Program through its annual Christmas stocking stuffer program.
The Corporate Angel Award was inaugurated in 2016 to recognize outstanding corporate partners that have supported AIDS Assistance Program consistently and with an abundance of heart.
ABOUT EVENING UNDER THE STARS
Over the years, Evening Under the Stars has featured the talents of a wide variety of entertainers. In 2014, an electrifying performance by the First Ladies of Disco – Linda Clifford, France Joli, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Maxine Nightingale, Pamala Stanley, Anita Ward, Martha Wash, and the ladies formerly of Chic: Alfa Anderson, Luci Martin, and Norma Jean – had everyone on their feet with an amazing night of 70’s dance music. Over the years, headliners Nell Carter, Tyne Daly, Melissa Manchester, Jane Oliver, Lorna Luft, Bea Arthur, Barry Manilow, Nancy Wilson, Lily Tomlin and the entire remaining cast of Laugh In, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Pink Martini, The B-52s, The Go-Go’s, Cyndi Lauper, and Darlene Love have all taken the stage in support of this very worthy cause.
ABOUT AIDS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Now in its 25th year of service to the community, AIDS Assistance Program of Palm Springs remains dedicated to providing nutritional support to improve the quality of the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. Initiated by a small group of concerned citizens led by the late Gloria Greene and Jeannette Rockefeller, AAP provides nutritional support to members of the community with low incomes. For more information, please call 760-325-8481.