Fashion Cares about HIV/AIDS

On May 29, Fashion Cares celebrated its 18th year of fundraising in support of the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) by throwing a no holds-barred party.

An increasing number of men, women and youth are becoming infected with HIV every day in Canada. There are currently an estimated 56,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Canada, and 30 per cent do not know they are infected. The mission of the AIDS Committee of Toronto is to provide support, HIV prevention and education services for people living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS.

Since its inception in 1986, Fashion Cares has raised $6-million for ACT.

Recognized internationally as one of the charity benefits at which to see and be seen, Fashion Cares received Best Charity Event and Event of the Year over $300,000 from the Canadian Event Industry Awards in 2003.

This year’s event recreated the glitz and glamour of club life in an extravaganza show that paid tribute to club theme nights. The show featured modeling legend Linda Evangelista as host, two-time Grammy-winning diva Patti Labelle as star performer, and feature performances by Jocelyn Brown, club music legend Martha Wash and Simone Denny (singer of Queer Eye’s “All Things” theme), among many others.

“HIV/AIDS has affected my life in so many ways,” says Linda Evangelista. “Through my involvement, I hope to help make a difference in the lives of people living with this disease in Canada.”

The show included designs inspired by club and music icons from Boy George to Cher. This year was also the first that professional models with disabilities were included on the runway.

For more information about the AIDS Committee of Toronto, call (416) 340-8484 or visit www.actoronto.org.