"Groove in the Grove" Free Public Concert and Gala to Benefit AIDS Memorial Grove

Many musicians are coming together in San Francisco to raise funds and public awareness about the fact that AIDS is still a problem. There is an urgent need to educate young people about AIDS given the fact that over fifty percent of new HIV infections occur in people under the age of 25--half of these cases are the result of heterosexual contact. Many AIDS service organizations still desperately need volunteers, donors, and help getting information out to the public, in spite of a huge cut in funding. The AIDS Memorial Grove's two day event

Media Contacts:
Gina Gatta, 415.577.0404
Maria Moyer-Angus, 510.384-4604

Materials and photos available at www.aidsmemorial.org

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The National AIDS Memorial Grove will present its spring fundraising gala, Groove in the Grove, on Friday evening, May 21, 2004 from 7:00 to 11:00p.m.

The event will be held under a tent erected for the occasion, in The Meadow at the seven-acre memorial in Golden Gate Park. Roberta Gonzales of CBS 5 will emcee the evenings activities, which include a silent auction of donated items from local designers including a smoky topaz necklace by Federico de Vera and performances by Lori Carsillo and The Nick Rossi Set, and featured performer----talented singer, songwriter, and pianist, Spencer Day.

In keeping with the Groves tradition of creating a unique atmosphere for its annual gala, this years Groove in the Grove will use music and décor to transport guests to a jet-set supper-club in the sleek, post-modern sixties, where the style of James Bond meets Austin-Powers mod.

Grove in the Grove continues on Saturday, May 22, 2004, with a free public concert in
the Grove from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. featuring Jacqui Naylor (last month's Vogue magazine called her "the new voice of jazz-pop" and JazzTimes called Jacqui "the next big thing. . with electricity and songwriting that is Joni-Mitchell good"). Top Bay Area performers, will
provide a mix of todays best (Jazz, Pop and R&B) sounds. Also performing are Shotgun
Wedding, Katie Jay and Eoin Harrington. Local AIDS service organizations will be onsite at
Saturdays concert with information about their programs and volunteer needs. Saturday also marks the public unveiling" of the Groves first permanent educational feature----an AIDS timeline recently installed at the new Belvedere Overlook. Funding for the Belvedere Overlook was provided by Macys Passport 02, American Express Company and The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. The timeline sets the social and political context while the AIDS epidemic developed and it helps ensure that lessons learned, as a result of this tragedy, are not lost to future generations," says executive director Rick Pavich. In contrast, he adds, . . . this gala and concert helps us remember the laughter and joy our loved ones
brought into our lives and not just sadness surrounding their deaths."

The National AIDS Memorial Grove honors all those whose lives have been touched by AIDS. The project strives to provide a positive focus for grief and promote peace of heart; to provide means for the community to recognize the enormity of the AIDS crisis; to create a
place for remembrance, hope and renewal; and to restore, through community participation in
the public-private partnership, a historic site of outstanding beauty in Golden Gate Park.

Tickets for Fridays Groove in the Grove are $150 per person. To purchase tickets, get
more information about this event, or for general information about the National AIDS
Memorial Grove please call 415-750-8340.

Information and a mail-in ticket purchase form are also available on the Groves website at www.aidsmemorial.org. All proceeds from the event
will benefit the National AIDS Memorial Grove, a project of the Tides Center, and will be used
for the ongoing care and maintenance of the Grove.

Special thanks to Event Underwriter, Wells Fargo, and to our Media Sponsors CBS 5, the San Francisco Chronicle, and A&U Magazine for their generous support of Groove in
the Grove.

Written Materials and photos are available at www.aidsmemorial.org
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