APICHA HOLDS FIRST THEATER BENEFIT ON BROADWAY

Press Release

APICHA HOLDS FIRST THEATER BENEFIT ON BROADWAY

Flower Drum Song Benefit Challenges Donors To Invest In HIV/AIDS Work For Asians And Pacific Islanders

For Immediate Release: September 3, 2002 New York, NY

APICHA (Asian Pacific Islanders coalition on HIV/AIDS) announces a special benefit event on Friday October 4, 2002 at 7:30 PM, in conjunction with a preview performance of Flower Drum Song at the Virginia Theater, 247 West 52nd Street. A post-theater party will follow the performance hosted by Factor Inc at Remi Restaurant, 145 West 53rd Street. Tony Award-winning playwright, David Henry Hwang, has written the show’s new groundbreaking book, set to the original music by Rodgers and Hammerstein. International star and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon and Les Miserables), with Jose Llana, leads the cast of all Asian American actors.

“We want to engage ‘uptown’ Asian and Pacific Islanders (A&PIs) in the fight to stop the AIDS epidemic in our community and to enjoy this history-making production,” explains APICHA Executive Director Therese R. Rodriguez. Because of the stigma associated with the virus and the cultural barriers to accessing services, A&PIs lag in their response to the spread of the epidemic. Rodriguez urges community leaders to invest in HIV/AIDS work by encouraging A&PIs to access available services and by contributing to agencies that provide these services, such as APICHA.

In July last year, APICHA moved to its new facility in Chinatown. The move followed a period of rapid growth in which APICHA developed a full continuum of services based on a “one-stop shop” model. Services added recently include HIV testing and counseling, a pantry bag program, nutrition counseling and an HIV primary care clinic, which is expected to open this fall. Dr. David D. Kim, a prominent Korean American physician and HIV/AIDS specialist, is the clinic’s medical director.

Filipino American philanthropists Gail Alvarez and Dr. Benjamin A. Ileto head the benefit committee. Mr. Hwang, who is the honorary benefit chair, will greet APICHA’s guests at the reception. APICHA funders, clients, staff and Asian American community leaders are expected to attend.
Benefit tickets are $250 and $100.

For reservations, send completed form to APICHA, attention Julia Prospero, 150 Lafayette Street, 6th Floor, NY, NY 10013; by fax to (212) 334-7956, or by e-mail to events@apicha.org.