Amigos y Amantes, Valentine's Day-Themed Art Auction to Benefit AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Mexico Clinics

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is proud to present the 2nd annual Amigos y Amantes (Friends and Lovers), an art exhibition and auction to benefit its free HIV/AIDS treatment, care and prevention services in Mexico -- in Tijuana, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Chiapas. Showcasing the work of notable and emerging artists--mostly Los Angeles-based Latino artists -- this lively celebration of Latino art and culture will take place on Saturday, February 9th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the popular Metro Gallery in Silverlake. The entrance fee is $25.00 and is applied to first bid. Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at http://www.amigosyamantes.org.

What: Amigos y Amantes (Friends and Lovers) -- Art Exhibit and Auction Benefiting AIDS Healthcare Foundation clinics in Mexico

When: Saturday, February 9, 2008* 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Where: Metro Gallery 1835 Hyperion Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027

Who: Dr. Jorge A. Saavedra Lopez, General Director, National Center for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS (CENSIDA), Mexico. Michael Weinstein, President, AIDS Healthcare Foundation Jessie Gruttadauria, Director of U.S. and Latin American Public Affairs, AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Contacts: Lori Yeghiayan, AHF Associate Director of Communications (323) 377-4312 mobile, (323) 860-5227 work

*Media Note: Preview of artwork available upon request

Among the over forty artists who have donated work to be auctioned at this Valentine's Day-themed event are well-known Mexican artist Pedro Diego Alvarado Rivera (grandson of Diego Rivera), portrait painter, muralist and illustrator, Miguel Angel Reyes, multi-media artist Diane Gamboa and painters Linda Vallejo, Yolanda Gonzalez, Alex Alferov, Hector Silva, Jose Lozano, and Glugio "Gronk" Nicandro.

Last year's inaugural event was a resounding success with over 150 people attending and bidding on the unique array of donated art pieces, helping to raise more than $10,000 for AIDS treatment in Mexico. Now in its second year, Amigos y Amantes 2008 is already set to top last year's event with even more participating artists, more auction attendees and more funds expected to be raised to provide lifesaving medical care for those living with HIV/AIDS in Mexico.

AHF's community-based comprehensive HIV/AIDS clinics in Mexico provide free lifesaving anti-retroviral therapy and clinical care to people living with HIV/AIDS. The clinics are partnerships between AHF and national and local government and serve populations greatly in need of treatment and care services. Since 2005, AHF has partnered with the Agencia Familiar Binacional, A.C., a respected, local Mexican non-governmental organization, to facilitate an HIV Testing Initiative in Tijuana B.C. through which rapid testing is offered to high-risk populations in the Central Jail, two local drug/alcohol rehab centers and a municipal health clinic. In 2006, AHF opened a treatment clinic in Puerto Vallarta, which currently serves close to 200 patients. AHF opened clinics in Cancun and Chiapas in 2007, which currently serve 200 and 400 patients respectively.

There were roughly 180,000 people in Mexico living with HIV in 2005 according to UNAIDS. Mexico's social security institutions offer free HIV/AIDS care; however, those individuals not covered by social security or without access to the state's FONSIDA (Mexican National Fund for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS) program often face difficulties in accessing both testing services and life- saving anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs). AHF treatment clinics in Mexico often serve as a safety net for care and services for those not eligible for care elsewhere in Mexico's healthcare system.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation's largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare, research, prevention and education provider. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 62,000 individuals in 15 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at http://www.aidshealth.org