It was a party by name, but thePittsburgh AIDS Task Force benefit on March 26 was in essence a remembrance of beloved friends.
“It's a very important charity to me,” said Linda Bucci (with Tony). “I do this in honor of my nearest and dearest friend who passed away from complications of AIDS.”
Finding someone who hadn't been affected by the disease was almost as hard as finding someone who hadn't been passionately supporting the Task Force since its inception 30 years ago. That was the time, said Nachum Golan (with Steve Hough), when the gay community watched in horror as lives were suddenly stripped of their vibrancy.
“We were so lucky. I feel an obligation to support this,” Golan said.
It was also a time when AIDS came with a horrifying stigma as people struggled to understand what was happening.
“People just weren't listening, but it was people like (founder) Kerry Stoner who put together this network of compassion and activism,” said Kerry Stoner awardee Stuart Fisk (with Scott McCauley).
Held at the J. Verno Studios in the South Side, the event “overshot fundraising goals” according to executive director Charles Christen, while doubling the number of VIP guests from years past.
“The beauty of this evening is that everyone is so dear to us and part of our family,” said Clare Meehan, who co-chaired with her sister, Barbara Richey Chait (with Gerald).
Attending were Rick LeBeau and Dr.Michael White, Sean Gray, Bob Sendall, Dr.Larry Leahy, Richard Parsakian, Josh Shapira, Peggy Walther, Dr. Lisa Cibik andBernie Kobosky, board prez Burt Rauluk and Bob Butter.
Bob Sendall's All in Good Taste Production provided the noshes, while Elite Show Band rocked the house.
Kate Benz is the social columnist for Trib Total Media and can be reached at kbenz@tribweb.com, 412-380-8515 or via Twitter @KateBenzTRIB.
