Wednesday, December 06, 2006

GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE AND PUT GYPSY OF THE YEAR OVER
THE THREE MILLION MARK

GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE WITH THEIR HEARTS - A DUET OF GENEROUS ACTS CREATE A SURPRISE ENDING

At the end of Tuesday's 18th Annual GYPSY OF THE YEAR Competition, it was announced that an impressive $2,972,721 for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. Unbeknownst to anyone, an unexpected third act of GYPSY OF THE YEAR 2006 was about to play out, with an even happier ending.

The series of fortuitous events started after the GYPSY OF THE YEAR curtain came down when, at the post-event party at Sardi’s, BC/EFA president Paul Libin generously sponsored by Playbill presented Tom Viola, BC/EFA executive director, with a $10,000 check from Jujamcyn Theaters as well as his own personal check for $5,000 which brought the grand total to $3,007,827.

Unaware of Libin’s donation the night before, the following day, Joe McGinnis, BC/EFA major donor and one of the producers of Spring Awakening, who had also been in the show’s audience, sent in a check for $7,200 – thinking he was jumping the event over the $3 million mark – but in fact bringing the day’s grant total to: $3,015,027!!!

Like they say, it ain't over 'til it's over. The proverbial "Fat Lady" was late on her cue for Tuesday's GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION, but her song never sounded better.

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Posted by Broadway Cares at Wednesday, December 06, 2006 |

Friday, December 01, 2006

A WORLD AIDS DAY LESSON IN LOVE AND RESPECT

MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT, THESE ARE NOT YOUR MOTHERS' PSA's ... or ARE they??

(December 1, New York, NY)Launching tonight on World AIDS Day tonight on LOGO TV, fans of the series "Noah's Ark" will be the first to witness the launch of a series of public service announcements aimed at tackling the rise in HIV, crystal meth use, and unsafe sex among gay men with candid yet loving and honestly.



What sets this series of announcements apart from other campaigns aimed to raise awareness about the Crystal / HIV connection is in its casting. When asked about the change in messaging tactics, Dan Carlson, founder of the HIV Forum NYC said “Gay men have heard safe sex messages before,but they haven’t heard them in such a frank yet affirming manner from women they respect and love, as if they are conversing with their own mothers, sisters, or friends." For these series of announcements titled "Look/Listen/Love/Respect", the mothers, sisters and friends are Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie Perez, and Amanda Peet.



The national ad campaign was made possible by a grant from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Cable Positive, and produced by a collaboration between HIV Forum NYC and the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York. Directed by Colin Weil of Lovett Productions in New York City, Look/Listen/Love/Respect features Sarandon, Goldberg, Perez, emphasizing the essential role that love, respect, and self-esteem play in helping gay men lead safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives.



“Despite knowing that condoms prevent HIV transmission, many gay men continue to engage in risky and self-destructive behavior,” said Dan Carlson, Founder of HIV Forum NYC. “As we mark World AIDS Day and the 25th anniversary of the discovery of HIV, we wanted to reframe the conversation among gay men about condom use and redefine what that simple act means.”



Make no bones about it, this is not your mother's PSA. In an effort to make gay men feel more comfortable discussing difficult topics with friends and partners, subjects traditionally considered by most as taboo for women to mention in private much less on national television like barebacking and crystal meth are delivered in a very frank direct manner. In one of the ads, Goldberg asks viewers: “Do you really think doing crystal meth makes you cool? Meth makes you do dumb stuff – like barebacking. What’s cool, is being true to yourself and helping your friends. Love and respect. Now that’s cool.”

In another spot, Peet gently stresses the need for communication in stopping HIV transmissions: “Talking about HIV won’t kill the mood, and then you can really get comfortable...You can be carefree without being careless.”


Carlson adds that the campaign is not about HIV education: “These are financed without government funding, so the spots are free to speak specifically to gay men and the realities of their lives. It's a critical message that has been missing from public health campaigns.”

In addition, Callen-Lorde is distributing the PSAs to a network of LGBT clinics in major cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, Washington, Boston, and Baltimore. The spots are also being distributed via Manmade Media, an organization that provides more than 500 gay clubs and bars across the country with video content.

Broadway Cares was able to fund this program thanks to countless acts of generosity from theater fans and professionals accross America by way of donations and through tickets to events like this Monday's Easter Bonnet Competition.

If there is someone in your life who you feel should hear this message, please feel free to click the "share" button on the video viewer or forward this blog on to them. Like a single dollar in a colletion bucket outside a show, forwarding this message can make a difference.

To see four additional PSAs in this campaign and to learn more about LOOK/ LISTEN/ LOVE/ RESPECT, visit www.loveandrespect.us

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Posted by Broadway Cares at Friday, December 01, 2006 |