Iris House Throws Benefit to End AIDS By 2020 in Harlem

Head to Madiba in Harlem on June 15 when Iris House welcomes all for "Put On Your Dancing Shoes, a night of dancing to the fabulous Karl Browne Band featuring DaChonne Nicole, to benefit the organizations' HIV programming for women. New York Liberty's Candice Wiggins will be the special guest.

"Last year, we celebrated the end of our 20th year with an event at Jimmy's Supper Club, and people loved the singing and dancing," said Iris House's Michael Jones. "So now, in our 22nd year, we decided to give them even more music and dancing. We'll still have the obligatory remarks, but they will be shorter in duration, so people can have a good time."

The event will feature heavy hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer and desserts with a silent auction to help women and families who are affected by HIV. In a special arrangement, Madiba at My Image Studios at Harlem (MIST Harlem) will do the catering, and the beer and wine bar has been sponsored, to make sure that more of the funds brought in by the event go to client services.

Special guest Candice Wiggins from New York Liberty will be in attendance. While in Minnesota, Wiggins was active with the Minnesota AIDS Project, and Iris House is excited that she's chosen to work with them here in New York.

"No matter how brave one might think he or she is, facing a stigma like HIV/AIDS is an incredibly daunting task where one must confront their greatest fears and ask themselves troublingly uncomfortable questions regarding sex, drugs, life and death," wrote Wiggins.

For clients living with HIV, Iris House offers 86 apartments in a scatter site, food and nutrition programs that feed thousands of people both with HIV and other chronic disparities, plus hot meal and pantry services.

They have 8-10 harm reduction groups a week for substance abuse or HIV issues, because one of the biggest barriers to adherence is substance abuse, said Jones. They also have interventions for HIV-positive women, and Willow, a CDC program where women with HIV come together to help other women who are not as far in their journey. They also offer two general support groups for HIV-positive women and one for HIV-positive men each week. The ultimate goal is to see an end to new HIV infections in New York by 2020.

"The reality is, in 2013-14, our clients had 75 percent viral suppression rate, 250 percent higher than national average," said Jones. "When you provide support, housing, make sure clients go to the doctor, and help with other social justice issues, people take control of their lives, people remain adherent, and viral suppression is the first step on the road to health."

Although the admission for clients active in advocacy may be underwritten by large donors, Jones said the event is first and foremost a fundraiser, and he encourages patrons to take advantage of the sponsorship levels, from $175-5,000, for a 12-ticket party pack.

"Iris House is all about boundaries, and creating your own space," said Jones. "Right now, our next biggest thing is that we're launching our new pharmacy program, to help teach people how they can coordinate their medications with the pharmacist. When people are living with HIV and taking those meds, they may also have other chronic illnesses, and are not always aware of the contraindications. So this program allows clients to get all refills at once, so that they can work with their pharmacy to make sure these drugs are safe together, and that they are being prescribed once a month, all in the same cycle."

It's just another way Iris House is helping rid New York of HIV by 2020. Buy tickets to their event today, and you can help, too!

Put on Your Dancing Shoes will be held from 7-9:30 p.m. on June 15 at Madiba Harlem, 46 W. 116th Street in NYC.

For information or tickets, visit www.irishouse.org or https://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51228/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=3123