| Calgary Cares gets Cheeky
Calgary Cares is facing a major challenge this year – not only is the annual event aiming to raise a record-setting $100,000 for AIDS Calgary, it’s also trying to top the expectations set by the last two shows.
"It’s huge pressure," says spokesperson Jim Button. "The production team actually gets stressed out at this time because they set these standards."
He adds that Calgary Cares has gained a reputation for its show – it was rated the second best fund-raiser in the city by Fast Forward readers – and participants brag about the fact it brings a cosmopolitan bent to the city.
"We’re out there leading the charge to try to come up with something different.... We’re very proud of that."
The theme for this year’s show is "A Cheeky Affair," and it includes 13 different sets with 200 models and dancers. Button says it’s a fusion of fashion and theatre, and a couple of the highlights are a duplicate of a scene from the film Sweet Charity, and a "Full Monty" that will please both the boys and the girls. In addition to the show, there will be a silent auction, a raffle for a "diamond thief" package, food and drinks from elite Calgary businesses, balloon bursts, fireworks and more, followed by a dance party.
Last year’s event raised $60,000, and this year the bar has been raised to $100,000. The money enables AIDS Calgary to continue providing support, community outreach, and information and training services to people affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.
One of those initiatives is the AIDS Calgary Awareness Association’s newsletter, 360°, which is published every other month. Media spokesperson Shane Rhodes says the newsletter, which started in September 2000, is one way the organization tries to reach people.
"What we were finding out a little bit in Calgary was that sometimes the news wasn’t covering what we thought it should be covering," he explains. "I think it’s just a matter of raising awareness."
In the last two issues, 360° has covered topics such as medicinal marijuana, Health Canada’s recommendation to test all prospective immigrants for HIV, issues surrounding HIV/AIDS information on the Internet, and AIDS Calgary Community Kitchen. The March newsletter also included an article on how a long-term SMED employee’s revelation that he had AIDS led the company to support AIDS Calgary and help raise awareness and compassion about HIV/AIDS – SMED is presenting Calgary Cares 2001, and its president, Mogens Smed, is the honourary chair.
Rhodes says that although awareness is difficult to measure, more people have been coming to AIDS Calgary to volunteer, request information and access programs since 360° started publishing. The newsletter is distributed to all AIDS Calgary members, volunteers and community partners, and is inserted into Outlooks, Fast Forward and the Calgary Straight.
Calgary Cares tickets are still available through TicketMaster. For more information on the event, group rates or AIDS Calgary phone 541-9255 or visit the Web site at www.calgarycares.com. |
