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For Immediate Release
November 10, 2003
LENGENDARY SINGER NANCY WILSON STARS in AIDS BENEFIT
PERFORMANCE PRESENTED by THE BALM IN GILEAD, Inc.
International HIV/AIDS Organization with Mission to Stop
AIDS Presents, “A Holiday Evening At The Waldorf with Nancy Wilson” Hosted by
Actress Lynn Whitfield
 (NEW YORK,
NY) –November 10, 2003…Legendary song stylist Nancy Wilson presents “A Holiday
Evening At The Waldorf With Nancy Wilson,” a benefit performance for The Balm
In Gilead, Inc. ™ a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization with an international
mission to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout the African Diaspora.
This benefit gala, hosted by actress Lynn Whitfield, will be held in the Starlight
Roof of New York’s historic Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Saturday, December 6, 2003.
The reception, commencing at 6:30PM, and the after party will be held in The Palm
Room. Individual tickets for this fundraising event are $1,200. For ticket information
please call 212-730-7381.
Ms. Nancy Wilson is the evening’s guest star performer. Her career spans more
than four decades during which she recorded for Capitol records and was second
only to the Beatles in sales, surpassing other Capitol artists including Frank
Sinatra, Peggy Lee and the Beach Boys. Today, the Grammy-winning artist is in
demand for concerts around the world. One of the evening’s highlights will be
Ms. Wilson’s original musical medley tribute to the legendary Lena Horne.
Actress Lynn Whitfield, who currently stars in Disney’s The Cheetah Girls with
actress Raven-Simone, gained recognition for her work in a number of TV dramas,
including The Women of Brewster Place (1990). But it was her starring performance
in the HBO biopic The Josephine Baker Story, in 1991, that won the actress an
Emmy and international acclaim. In 1999, Ms. Whitfield earned an NAACP Image Award
nomination for her work in Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Wedding, a 1950’s drama
in which she was cast as the wealthy mother of a young woman (Halle Berry) intent
on marrying a poor white musician.
“This elegant evening not only celebrates one of the world’s greatest
artists, but increases awareness and raises funds to help stop the HIV/AIDS pandemic
that is taking the life out of our communities around the world,” says Pernessa
Seele, Founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead, Inc.
The gala has a who’s who list of celebrities supporting the event, including
legendary actor and entrepreneur Paul Newman, philanthropist and BET co-founder
Dr. Sheila Crump Johnson and Essence’s Susan L. Taylor. The Honorary Chairperson
for this event is renowned American opera singer Jessye Norman, who in 1996 performed
Jessye Norman Sings For The Healing of AIDS. That benefit gala included among
its special guests Whoopi Goldberg, Elton John and Maya Angelou. The television
airing of Jessye Norman Sings For The Healing of AIDS was an Emmy-award winning
PBS broadcast special.
The Balm In Gilead, Inc™ established in 1989, is a not-for-profit, non-governmental
organization with an international mission to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout
the African Diaspora by building the capacity of faith communities to provide
HIV/AIDS education and support networks for all people living with and affected
by HIV/AIDS. The organization currently works in five African countries (Côte
d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Kenya) addressing the devastation of
HIV/AIDS. The Balm In Gilead’s pioneering achievements have enabled thousands
of churches to become leaders in preventing HIV by providing comprehensive educational
programs and offering compassionate support to encourage those infected to seek
and maintain treatment.
PRESS CONTACT:
Teresa Lyles Holmes
914-282-5317
Pauline Barfield
212-736-0404
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