Black AIDS Institute celebrates 60 years of Phill Wilson A Birthday Jubilee and Roast

LOS ANGELES, April 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Black AIDS Institute's annual fundraiser will be held in conjunction with the 60^th birthday party of Phill Wilson, its President and CEO. The gathering will take place on Saturday, April 23, 2016 in Los Angeles. In lieu of birthday gifts, Wilson asks that friends and supporters make charitable donations to the Institute. "There is nothing more important that I could ever ask for as a birthday gift than a donation to the Black AIDS Institute," he says.

The Institute was founded in Wilson's living room in 1999.  He has devoted over half of his life to raising awareness of HIV/AIDS—a life that was predicted to end before his 28^th birthday. He has now lived with HIV/AIDS for more than 30 years.

Obba Babatunde will be the co-host for the evening.  Yvette Cason, Lynn Fiddmont, Indira Khan, and Freda Payne are scheduled to perform.  Celebrity roasters include Sheryl Lee Ralph, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Vanessa Williams and others.  As a part of its "Drive Out AIDS" campaign, Car Pros Kia of Carson will be providing free raffle tickets with a chance to win a 2016 Kia Forte. Tickets are available at www.60.eventbrite.com.

Actress, singer and activist Sheryl Lee Ralph is a strong supporter of Phill: "We celebrate the life work of Phill Wilson and thank God that he has survived! When many were afraid to live their HIV positive truth, Phill built a road for others to follow."

All charitable contributions will help the Institute continue to promote awareness in Black communities through HIV science and treatment trainings, HIV testing events, helping to link HIV positive people to care and other preventive services offered from an unapologetically Black point of view that demonstrates that Black Lives Matter.

"We are committed to ending AIDS and to do that we need to make sure that people understand the AIDS epidemic is not over and the donations help us raise awareness," Wilson says. "We have the tools to end the epidemic and people need to know how to use those tools."

Although Wilson looks forward to the big celebration, he understands that everyone cannot come to Los Angeles.

"No matter who you are, no matter where you are, whether you can be in L.A. on April 23^rd or not, you can participate in this celebration by donating," Phill says.

For more information about the birthday party, and for those unable to attend but who would like to donate, please visit www.phillwilson60.com.

Black AIDS Institute

Founded in 1999, the Black AIDS Institute is the only national HIV/AIDS think tank in the United States focused exclusively on Black People.  The Institute's mission is to end the AIDS epidemic in Black communities be engaging and mobilizing Black institutions, leaders, and individuals in efforts to confront HIV/AIDS.  The Institute disseminates information, offers training and capacity building, provides testing and linkage to care, influences both private and public HIV/AIDS policy, and conducts mobilization and advocacy from a uniquely and unapologetically Black point of view.

SOURCE Black AIDS Institute

Related Links

http://www.blackaids.org