BELMONT, N.C. — Spring is coming back — everyone knows what that means. As the days get longer and warmer, non-profit groups are organizing fundraisers and other activities to raise awareness and cash.
The House of Mercy, a non-profit residence for low-income persons living with advanced stages of AIDS, will be among the first groups to roll out fundraising events this spring. On April 4, the group will present its 16th Annual Walk for AIDS.
Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, the House of Mercy has been providing housing and compassionate, 24-hour care for low-income AIDS patients since 1991. The group has served over 250 men and women since their beginning.
The Walk for AIDS begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 4 on the Sisters of Mercy campus in Belmont. Throughout the day, several groups and performers will take the stage to entertain during the walk and picnic reception afterward. Entertainers include the Belmont Steel Drum Band and Audioform, an acid-jazz funk collective that originated in Charlotte. Audioform is known for its multicultural attempt to fuse jazz, funk, and soul into a sound that is augmented by a big horn section and a groove-oriented rhythm section. The band consists of Tony McCullough (alto saxophone), Joey Rayfield (trombone), Travis Calvert (Saxophone), Audi Jones (drums), Joe Smalls (bass) Keith Whatley (guitar), Antonio Diaz (percussion) and Johnathon Ayala (keys).
This year’s honorary chair is Maureen O’Boyle, a graduate of West Charlotte High School. O’Boyle anchored for “A Current Affair” and the entertainment news magazine show “EXTRA” before moving back to Charlotte to anchor for WBTV News.
This year’s event is sponsored by Tibotec Therapeutics, Firefold, WSGE 91 and Q-Notes. Corporate friends of the event include Environmental Diversified Services, Lucas Concrete Products, Merck & Company, The Woodshed Lounge, and Tony’s Ice Cream Company.
For more information about the event or to make a donation, visit www.thehouseofmercy.org or call 704-825-4711, ext. 3.