By Debbie Hall
Vegas’ hottest party of the year, Aid for AIDS of Nevada’s (AFAN) 36TH annual Black & White Party, will explode at Virgin Hotel Las Vegas on Saturday, October 22. Proceeds from the evening benefit those living with or affected by or affected by HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada.
Celebrate performances from world-class entertainers, delectable food and beverage samplings, and a sea of over-the-top and barely-there black and white fashions.
The evening kicks off with the VIP Reception at 8 p.m. in the Manor. The reception will feature exclusive food and beverage offerings, entertainment, and the ‘Right to Wear Red’ ceremony, AFAN’s biennial honor recognizing a group of community advocates.
The main event will occur outside the Event Lawn at 9 p.m. An event for the senses; enjoy a line-up of live entertainment and music, a variety of food and beverage options, and, of course, over-the-top black and white fashions.
Guests are encouraged to wear black and white; maybe as little as you can get away with, and still be legal!
But there is more to this party than an over-the-top experience. First, this continues the tradition of the original Black and White party, a barbecue held at someone’s home with everyone bringing black and white label generic canned food for the pantry. It has since grown into one of the year’s hottest events, with the party growing bigger and better.
More importantly, it is the funding that is needed to continue the services and research for those with HIV/AIDS and their families.
AFAN is the largest service organization in Nevada, providing mental health services, transportation, case management, nutrition, and HIV testing on-site. All of the money raised during fundraisers, 100 percent, benefits client services.
It is important to emphasize that HIV/AIDS is still prevalent with the number of clients growing. It is also essential to get the message out about PrEP, an HIV prevention medicine for those who don’t have HIV, with a 98 percent effectiveness rate and safer sex practices.
While the ultimate goal is to eradicate HIV/AIDS, AFAN currently focuses on the many services for clients and their families, with so much work to be done.
Aid for AIDS of Nevada’s 36th annual Black & White Party will be held at Virgin Hotel Las Vegas on Saturday, October 22. For more info, visit afanlv.org. Click here to purchase tickets.