The beat: For nearly two decades, Mississippi HeARTS Against AIDS has helped fund a worthy cause and put on a heck of a party in the process.
The night's festivities include live music from Scott Albert Johnson, Bofus and Hearts of Fire; appetizers donated by area restaurants and auctions for more than 150 works of art, including pieces by William Dunlap, H.C. Porter, Gail Gettis and Susan Cox Davis.
Tammy Oliver Cook, the chairwoman of the event's board of directors, says that all the fun is in service of a serious mission.
"One of our mission statements is awareness and acceptance of HIV/AIDS," she says. "Unfortunately, in the South and Mississippi in particular, the need for HIV awareness has grown because rates of infection have increased. We need it for awareness and prevention."
Funds raised at the annual event go to nonprofit organizations like the Grace House shelter in Jackson that provide urgent assistance to those living with HIV/AIDS.
"We've done everything from just keeping their electricity on to helping people with medication," Cook says.
Such money was scarce in the days before HeARTS Against AIDS got off the ground in 1992.
"I think the only organization was the Episcopal Committee and they only had $1,200 a year for emergency assistance," Cook recalls. "We went to St. James (Episcopal) Church and asked them if we could get their support for a benefit. Our idea was to always have it on Valentine's weekend."
From there, they went to Hal & Mal's, which provided the venue for the first event and all but three of them thereafter.
"Our motto is 'All Things Jackson' and we do all we can do to help the city and help whoever needs help," says general manager Charly Abraham. "It was a huge event and every one that we've ever had has been jam-packed from the very beginning."
According to Cook, HeARTS Against AIDS draws more than 800 people each year and earns tens of thousands of dollars.
Beyond those figures, Cook hopes that the event helps raise the profile of the AIDS problem in the state and beyond.
"People (need) to be aware that the disease is still out there and of the need to prevent it with their own actions," she says.
