Philadelphia Center continues mission through auction

Latoya White, Garrett Johnson, Christopher Canizares, Myles Cameron, Jacquelyn Barber, Bobby Darrow are volunteers with the Philadelphia Center.

The Philadelphia Center of Shreveport, Northwest Louisiana’s HIV/AIDS resource center, promises “a night of enchantment” for this year’s Auction Against AIDS held Aug. 3 at the Riverdome at Horseshoe Casino and Hotel. The theme for this year’s gala is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Serving nine parishes in the region, the Philadelphia Center supports anyone whose life is affected by HIV or AIDS, said Executive Director Brett Malone.

“The auction is one of the ways we raise awareness for AIDS and what we do in the community,” he said.

In fact, the Auction Against AIDS was the fundraising event that helped establish the Philadelphia Center, located at 2020 Centenary Blvd. in Shreveport (There is also a satellite office in Natchitoches.), which provides HIV testing, counseling, referral services, prevention services, food and nutritional support, support groups, care coordination, medication assistance, transportation assistance and housing supports as well as programs that are specific to the Latino and African- American communities. They also reach out to high-risk areas of the community and advocate for various issues related to HIV/AIDS.

Recently, the Philadelphia Center partnered with the Martin Luther King Health Center, and beginning in September, they will offer an HIV Specialty Clinic for people who have tested positive for HIV but are uninsured.

“It may be able to lighten the load of LSU [Health Shreveport],” Malone said.

In the next six to 12 months, the Philadelphia Center will begin a new Wellness Center program targeted at gay, bisexual and transgender men who are most at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

“Shreveport is unfortunately one of the syphilis capitals of the country. Our syphilis rate is just through the roof,” Malone said. The Wellness Center will offer testing for STDs and provide treatments.

Another development is under way for the Philadelphia Center. Malone said, “We’re undergoing a half-million-dollar renovation of Mercy Center on Austin Place,” Malone said. The Mercy Center is the only permanent housing facility for people living with HIV/AIDS in northern Louisiana. Established in 2001, it has 14 private rooms and provides 24-hour security, staff, transportation, food and personal care items. The Department of Community Development awarded a grant for the project, but the Philadelphia Center must raise 25 percent of the funds needed to complete the renovation.

“We are currently engaged in a very ambitious strategic planning process that will help propel us forward over the next three to five years,” Malone said in a press release. “One of the trends that we are having to face as a nonprofit AIDS service organization is to rely less on state and federal funding and more on local and regional support from foundations, corporations and friends.

We are working toward the first ‘AIDSfree generation.’” The Auction Against AIDS is a part of that goal. Noted for its whimsical, overthe-top themes as it is for its auction items, the Auction Against AIDS is now held in a new, much-larger venue, the Riverdome at Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, to accommodate a larger crowd.

“It’s a committee-driven event,” Malone said. “Our board members are all volunteers. We also bring in volunteers for the event.”

This year, Rebecca Thomas, president of the board, and Jacqelyn Barber are responsible for this year’s theme, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

“We were trying to go for an ethereal, enchanted forest this year,” Malone said.

In addition to costumed characters from the Shakespearean play, the Auction Against AIDS will feature music by DJ Chuck Davis, dance performances by Shufflin’ Along, hors d’oeuvres and desserts along with a full cash bar and, of course, the silent and live auctions.

Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased at www.philadelphiacenter. org. Sponsorships are still available as well.

– Kelly Powell