November 16th is fast approaching for one of Nassau’s most anticipated fundraisers, the annual Red Ribbon Ball this year celebrating its 20th anniversary. Organized this year by The Bahamas AIDS Foundation, prizes are piling up in readiness for the big night and include a $10,000 shopping spree and five round trip tickets to destinations around the world. The event has been well supported in the past and usually raises approximately 50% of funds needed by the Bahamas AIDS Foundation to run its programmes each year.
The glamorous Red Ribbon Ball is annually tagged as the ‘not to be missed’ event courtesy of its partners and sponsors whose continued and generous support enables The Bahamas AIDS Foundation to make a tangible difference to those who suffer from and are stigmatised daily, by an HIV/AIDS status. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in The Bahamas is second only to sub-Saharan Africa and is the number one killer in The Bahamas among 15-49 year olds.
Civic minded partners, many of whom have been majorly involved in many aspects of the Ball include American Airlines, Atlantis, British Colonial Hilton, Cable Bahamas Limited, John Bull Limited, Karma Design, Pictet Bank and Trust Limited, and Zamar Group of Companies Limited. Also making invaluable contributions are the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), Colina Insurance Limited, Commonwealth Bank, Credit Suisse Trust Limited, FYP, Grant Thornton Bahamas, Kidney Centre Limited, Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank (Bahamas) Limited, and Union Bancaire Privee (Bahamas) Limited. Other important contributors include Bahama Fantasies, the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (ZNS), Executive Printers of The Bahamas, Graycliff and John Watling’s Distillery.
Set to a magical backdrop of a Cirque du Soleil theme entitled, “Believe in Zero,” this year’s Ball will also offer entertainment by Bahamian music greats such as Fred Ferguson and Tingum Dem along with Ira Storr and The Spank Band. The raffle prizes are incomparable and include a $10,000 shopping spree at John Bull, five round trip tickets to destinations around the world courtesy of American Airlines with hotel accommodations, courtesy of the British Colonial Hilton.
As expected of this event, a super Silent Auction includes a variety of lifestyle luxuries, designer goods, a week-end get-away, a catered Chef dinner party, art work and jewellery. The Ball will be held in The Grand Ballroom of Atlantis on Paradise Island opening with cocktails at 7:00 pm. Ball committee members urge guests not to miss the ‘happy hour’ cocktail time as the party and the ‘action’ starts promptly at 7:00 pm. For tickets or to make a donation contact the Bahamas AIDS Foundation at 325-9326/7 or e-mail aidsfoundationbahamas@yahoo.com or redribbonball2013@gmail.com Tickets are available at the Foundation offices at 14 Delancey Street (opposite John Watling’s Distillery) from 9:30am-11:30am Monday - Friday.
