Press Release
Tree Of Life Ceremony Honors People With AIDS
Mama’s Kitchen and Village Hillcrest Co-Host Holiday Event
SAN DIEGO, November 28, 2005 – Mama’s Kitchen, a non-profit meal delivery service dedicated to providing nutritious meals 365 days a year to San Diegans affected by AIDS, will host the 14th annual Tree of Life Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, December 1, World AIDS Day from 6-7 p.m. Hundreds of San Diegans will join Mama’s Kitchen, Academy Award winning actress Rita Moreno, Congresswoman Susan Davis, Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins, and Chief of the HIV, STD and Hepatitis branch of County Public Health Services Terry Cunningham, and Jeff Gelder of Gelderhead Productions and on-air at KYXY 96.5 FM, at the Village Hillcrest Retail Center to honor those who have been affected by AIDS and to highlight the continuing challenge to find a cure.
“The Tree of Life Lighting Ceremony is a special time for members of our community to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS and honor those who continue to live with this disease,” said Alberto CortÈs, executive director of Mama’s Kitchen. “There is still much work to be done to eliminate this heartbreaking pandemic.”
In addition to the beautiful tree lighting ceremony, event attendees will be treated to a keynote addresses from Rita Moreno, Congresswoman Susan Davis, and Terry Cunningham from the County Public Health Services, a performance of holiday carols by the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego, and a candlelight vigil co-sponsored by the San Diego County HIV, STD and Hepatitis Branch. Friends of Mama’s Kitchen who have died from AIDS will be represented in an AIDS quilt featuring a panel for each person. Coffee, tea, and seasonal hot beverages will be provided by Peet's Coffee & Tea, along with cookies from Mama's Kitchen.
The Tree of Life will be decorated with ornaments personalized to honor those who have been affected by AIDS. Ornaments will be on sale for $10 each, or two for $15, with all proceeds going to benefit Mama’s Kitchen.
The event is free and open to the public. The Village Hillcrest retail center is located at 3965 Fifth Avenue, at the corner of Washington Street. For further information, please call (619) 233-MAMA (6262) or visit the website at www.mamaskitchen.org.
About Mama's Kitchen
Mama's Kitchen was founded in 1990 when volunteers from the AIDS Assistance Fund, a food bank for people with AIDS, discovered that many of their clients were becoming too ill to take care of themselves. They realized that a reliable home meal delivery service was needed to ensure that these individuals would continue to receive nutritious food. Today, Mama's Kitchen prepares and delivers three meals a day for every day of the week to about 300 men, women, and children affected by AIDS or other critical illnesses in San Diego County. Mama’s Kitchen is located at 1875 Second Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101. For more information, visit http://www.mamaskitchen.org.
Immediate Release Contact:
Melinda Balkom, Director of Development and Communications, Mama’s Kitchen
Direct: 619-233-6262 x112 | melinda@mamaskitchen.org
