Jennifer Holliday Entertains at Desert AIDS Project Humanitarian Awards, 2/27

The Desert AIDS Project is hosting the 16th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards on February 27 at Palm Springs Convention Center. The evening is hosted by Richard Chamberlain and Stefanie Powers.

Their entertainers include Linda Eder, Jennifer Holliday, and Roslyn Kind, with the Pat Rizzo orchestra. Diahann Carroll, Linda Gray, Morgan Fairchild, and Donna Mills are scheduled to attend as well.

The 2010 honorees include Bob Mackie (Arts and Activism Award), Ann-Margret (Arts and Activism Award), Caear Coalition (Medicine and Advocacy Award), Steve Kaufer and Scott Van Dyke (Partners for Life Award), and Mary Cone (100 Women Award). 

Jennifer Holliday is a Tony Award-winner for her iconic performance as Effie Melody White in the original Broadway cast of Dreamgirls. A two-time Grammy Award winner, she has recorded five chart-making CD's for Arista, Geffen and Intersound Records. Holliday has recorded with such artists as Barbara Streisand, Foreigner, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and Luther Vandross, among others. Her other Broadway and New York theatre credits include Your Arms Too Short To Box With God, Chicago, Grease, Down-Hearted Blues: the Story of Bessie Smith, Sing Mahalia, Sing: the Story of Mahalia Jackson and Harlem Suite. She is also known for her recurring role on "Ally McBeal," the popular hit Fox TV show. Her other television appearances include "Touched By An Angel," "Ellen," "Hang Time" and "The Love Boat." She also made her motion-picture debut as both an actor and a songwriter for the independent film The Rising Place, which had a successful limited release and is now available on DVD.

Linda Eder became a favorite leading lady of Broadway and concerts after gaining fame in her starring role in the musical Jekyll & Hyde, for which she won a Drama Desk Award. Throughout her two decades as a recording star, Linda Eder has garnered acclaim crooning theatrical evergreens. Eder revealed an affinity for country-pop and blues-suffused rock in one recent CD and in her latest CD, titled Soundtrack, she adds new dimensions to an eclectic mix of themes from the silver screen.

The evening begins at 5:30 with cocktails and a silent auction.  The dinner and awards portion of the evening begin at 7pm. Tickets are $425 per person and can be purchased by calling 760-323-2118 ext. 266. For more information visit www.desertaidsproject.org.

Desert AIDS Project provides medical care and comprehensive support services to people living with HIV/AIDS in the desert community. Free, confidential, rapid-result HIV testing is available, as well as counseling, home health services, legal assistance and assistance with housing, medications, food, re-employment and more. Prevention and education outreach is available to any group. As a fundraiser, D.A.P. operates its five Revivals resale marts.