The fight is still on

Suzie Harrison

Woven through threads of hope, coupled with action, like-minded

people have made a difference in Laguna Beach and beyond, and the

effort continues to help those who face the AIDS pandemic through

events like Art for AIDS III.

Sharing stories about AIDS’ scourge since its stories began

emerging in newspapers in 1981, co-founders Al Roberts and Arnold

Klein saw it destroy a close friend, Rock Hudson.

“Rock got sick in ’82 or ‘83, because he died in ’85. He died when

[AIDS Services Foundation] was started,” said Roberts, who founded

the AIDS Services Foundation Orange County.

That was the same year the American Foundation for AIDS Research

was founded, and because of its efficacy, it gave AIDS a face and

more acceptance, said Klein, a founding member of its board of

directors.

Buying a house in Laguna Beach brought the AIDS Services

Foundation to Klein’s attention and he knew he had to be a part of

it. He met its co-founders and together they came up with the idea of

Art for AIDS.

Klein had the connections to bring in high-profile celebrities,

and to remember their friend, they had the first event at Laguna Art

Museum, titled “Art for AIDS: A Tribute to Rock Hudson.”

“I said here’s something for AIDS, Laguna is the hardest hit per

capita,” Klein said. “I said I’ll get Elizabeth Taylor, Michael

Jackson and Penny Marshall.”

Paramount to its success has been the star power -- with a

celebrity list including Taylor, Annette Bening, Carrie Fisher,

Jackson Browne, Marshall, Warren Beatty, Bob Dylan and Merv Griffin,

with generous donations from other celebrities as well.

Klein said Fisher gave some of the early speeches and was one of

the early faces after Taylor.

“I think it’s important, still, to do stuff for AIDS, obviously,”

Fisher said. “I’ve been involved more personally. A lot of friends

got sick and passed away here -- so, I’ve seen what it can do.”

Fisher said it’s important to raise money to help people who

wouldn’t be able to afford treatment.

“An event like this, with a lot of celebrities, people pay

attention,” Fisher said. “What the celebrities are gathered for here,

we’re gathered for AIDS and for Tom Petty’s wife’s brother, who died.

And people are still dying.”

This year’s event will host a special concert by Tom Petty and the

Heartbreakers, a tribute to Dana Petty’s brother Stephen Cy Costick,

who died of AIDS.

“Dana started crying at last year’s event -- her brother died from

AIDS and was totally abandoned,” Klein said. “She was really involved

in his care. I was so touched by it. She is such an amazing woman.”

He said the celebrities are coming out in full support by either

attending the event or donating items such as a signed guitar from

Sting and one from Stephen Stills, Browne and Tom Petty and the

Heartbreakers.

“Goldie Hawn has donated a ring, Ringo Starr signed a tambourine,

a dress [from] Elizabeth Taylor, one by Cher designed by Bob Mackie,

Sharon Stone is donating,” Klein said.

“Anyone I asked would do it because of Tom Petty, because of his

generosity. He’s always giving,” Klein said. “Tom is very generous as

a human being. It’s going to be amazing for their family to have

closure and deal with Stephen’s death.” Roberts said it has been his

mission in life to help people with AIDS.

“To me, you have to pick something in your life and give back,”

Roberts said. “I was brought up that if you don’t do that, something

is missing.”

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, have been

invited, and organizers think it’s important that they come.

“Arnold needs to know that this is where it was first discovered

and is still going strong,” Klein said.

Roberts concurred that it needs to be brought to the forefront.

According to statistics, the number of HIV tests that came back

positive among gay and bisexual men rose by 17% from 1992 to 2002.

So far, the event has raised $500,000 and participants hope to

raise another $400,000 on Saturday.

The event is sold out, but a donation can be made by going to

https://www.ocasf.org.

“We’ve got to keep it on the front burner -- it’s a real disease

and people are dying,” Roberts said.