AFAN’s 33rd annual Black & White Party was held this past Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel to great success as hundreds of attendees donned black and white apparel to raise funds to support those living with HIV/AIDS. Established in 1984, AFAN is the oldest and largest support organization for those living with this disease. AFAN also serves as an advocacy group to fight the stigma of living with HIV/AIDS and to promote prevention education. The diverse and eclectic crowd gathered to socialize, eat, drink, dance and bid on silent auction items. Dressed in fabulous avant-garde costumes, tuxedos, gowns and simple but elegant attire, guests partied for the cause from 9 pm to 1 am before journeying to Piranha for the after party.
The Black and White Party evolved after a simple canned food drive was created to provide food donations for those living with HIV/AIDS at the onset of the epidemic. In those years, many afflicted with this disease lost their jobs and their homes as a result of not being able to remain employed due to the rehabilitating disease and AFAN was created to assist those in need. Through the years, this event has evolved into an annual event in which all the proceeds are directed to local residents living with this disease, through the introduction of protease inhibitors in the mid 90’s, HIV is no longer a death sentence but a chronic disease. Although much progress has been made, there is much work to be done in education and prevention. We all just work together to realize the day when a vaccination and a cure are discovered.
Equality Nevada was honored to appear as a sponsor for this event as we firmly believe that all nonprofits must work in tandem together to bring about positive change in the Las Vegas community and we look forward to partnering with AFAN on other events in our city.
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