Celebrities and Families “Join The Moment” to Fight Pediatric AIDS at 16th Annual Kids For Kids Carnival in New York City
October 25, 2009
Contact:
Kirsten Steglich: 917.520.3665;
kidsforkids@innovativephilanthropy.net
Robert Yule, EGPAF: 202.390.9540;
ryule@pedaids.org
Event Raises Approximately $1.5 Million to Benefit Lifesaving Global Work of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
New York, NY—Celebrities and families contributed to the global fight against pediatric HIV/AIDS this weekend at the 16th annual Kids for Kids Family Carnival on October 24 in New York City in support of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The carnival, held at Industria Superstudio, raised nearly $1.5 million to support the Foundation’s work around the world preventing and treating HIV in mothers, children, and families.
“Twenty years ago, Elizabeth Glaser started the Foundation at a critical moment to end HIV and AIDS in children,” said Foundation President and CEO Pamela W. Barnes. “It is truly fantastic to see so many people joining a new moment to help finish the work Elizabeth started, and speed us toward the day when we have a global HIV-free generation.”
To support the cause, celebrities from the worlds of film, television, fashion, sports, and music – such as photographer/filmmaker and America’s Next Top Model judge Nigel Barker, Hannah Montana’s Emily Osment, Gossip Girl’s Connor Paolo and Matthew Settle, news anchor Elizabeth Vargas, and Olympic figure skater Sarah Hughes – mingled with nearly 1,000 guests and volunteered at carnival-style booths throughout the fun-filled afternoon.
Kids and families were dazzled with many activities, including:
- The Disney Reading Room, where celebrities and special guests – including Alice and the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland – read stories to attendees;
- The Sony Cierge Zone;
- A movie room showing Foundation Celebrity Ambassador Nigel Barker’s newly premiered documentary Generation Free – filmed this year in Tanzania – about the Foundation’s mission to create a generation free of HIV;
- Decoration stations for items including Kidville cookies, Skip Hop lunch bags, and LittleMissMatched sock puppets;
- An art room where kids joined world-famous artists – such as Will Cotton, Ippolita, and Cecily Brown – to create their own masterpieces; and
- The Pipino Salon, where guests received stylish make-overs and hairstyles.
After working up an appetite, guests were treated to sample cuisine from some of New York’s finest restaurants at the Kids for Kids “Restaurant Row,” including sweets from Billy’s Bakery, sushi from BONDST, pizza from OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria, hamburger sliders from The Bubble Lounge and Mercer Kitchen, and many others.
In addition to food and games, guests participated in the Foundation’s lifesaving work at the Generation Free: Mommy and Baby Kit Area. Volunteers and Foundation staff explained efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, while allowing guests to assemble kits with supplies to ensure safe births in the areas of the world hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. The kits will be distributed to HIV-positive mothers at Foundation-supported sites throughout Africa.
The Foundation also invited guests to upload a photo or video of their own special moments through ThisMoment.com. These moments will continue to be collected at
pedaids.thismoment.com in anticipation of this year’s World AIDS Day on December 1.
“This event continues to be so successful due to the generosity of our sponsors, donors, and participants, all of whom help make our work possible,” said Barnes.
The Kids for Kids Family Carnival is generously co-chaired by Nigel and Cristen Barker, Willow Bay and Disney President and CEO Bob Iger, Alexandra and Steven Cohen, Megan and Larry Foley, Michael Gould, Brian and Darlene Heidtke, Donna Karan, Anne Keating, Terry Lundgren, Abby and Eli Manning, Ronald O. Perelman, Amy Robbins, and Lizzie and Jon Tisch.
For a video highlighting the day’s activities, please visit
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbKiTTroQCE. Additional video and photos of the event are available upon request.
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About the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has been a global leader in the fight against pediatric AIDS for the past twenty years. Its innovative research programs, collaborative training initiatives, advocacy efforts, and rapidly expanding international prevention and treatment programs are bringing dramatic changes to the lives of children worldwide.