For Immediate Release

NextAid Unites Los Angeles’ Dance Music Scene
For World AIDS Day Campaign Fundraising Event
SOUND>EFFECT
At LA’s Premier Green Space, Marrakesh House
December 11, 2010

Los Angeles, CA – Humanitarian organization NextAid presents its second annual World AIDS Day campaign fundraising event at LA’s top “green” event location, Marrakesh House. Entitled SOUND>EFFECT and taking place on Saturday December 11, 2010  from 5:00pm – midnight, NextAid and partners will create an unforgettable evening of music, dancing and art.  NextAid joins forces with like-minded organizations Family Affair, HearME, Green Wave and Africa10 at film director Chris Paine’s noted sustainably remodeled home located on a scenic hillside in Culver City (private address, parking info revealed upon ticket purchase).

Entertainment will include live performances by trip hop vocalist Shana Halligan of Bitter:Sweet and funk/soul band King Kid, along with some of Los Angeles’ favorite DJ’s Marques Wyatt, Andy Caldwell, Braden and Mr. Caparro, Michele Bass, and more with dancers and percussionists. The evening will be MC’d by KCRW’s Raul Campos and Debi Mae West. Visuals will include projections from the World Cup film Africa10 and HearME’s music programs. This will be one of Marques’ last LA performances before he moves to New York City. The evening will also include a silent auction featuring ecological and fair trade products and services, and work from local and African artists. Supporters include Fusicology, Flavorpill, and Deep-LA. For more information, go to www.nextaid.org/wad2010

This exclusive event has a strict capacity limit of 300 people. The first 100 tickets are $30 and are only available through November 30^th, the price then goes up to $40. VIP tickets are $60 and include open bar all night long. There will be an open bar cocktail hour from 5:00-7:00pm, with a fundraising bar the rest of the evening. There will also be light food provided by organic and/or local restaurants. Tickets are available via http://soundeffect.eventbrite.com.

Proceeds from SOUND>EFFECT, as well as all of NextAid’s World AIDS Day events and online campaign, will support current NextAid projects in Africa which include constructing an eco-friendly micro-enterprise facility for a street youth project in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya; supporting the education of orphaned children and youth in South Africa by providing school uniforms and supplies; and donating to critical maternal health programs for girls and women in Sierra Leone.  Proceeds from the Marrakesh House event will also benefit Green Wave and HearME. Green Wave is raising funds to build a “green” children’s sanctuary in a Nairobi slum, and HearME provides mini music studios and an online music network to orphanages around the world.

Sound>Effect is part of NextAid’s 4th Annual World AIDS Day campaign that kicked off on November 27th and runs the entire month of December. Over 14 parties in 10 cities in 3 countries are on board! Visit NextAid’s website to find detailed info for events in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Cape Town, Detroit, Baltimore, Boston, Vancouver, Omaha, and San Diego.

For those who cannot make it to a benefit party, they can still be a part of the global campaign by joining the online campaign. NextAid artists, such as DJ Dan and DJ Colette, will be raising awareness and funds for projects through a Twitter generated $10 tweet campaign. Supporters can make direct donations to NextAid, send holiday eCard gift donations to friends and family, shop for great music gifts from OM Records at the Holiday Pop Up Store (launching soon) where 10% of sales will go to NextAid, and make other purchases from over 1200 retailers at NextAid’s We-Care.com shopping mall. Changemakers are also invited to take action with NextAid’s “10 Ways to Do Good” list that makes it easy to be a part of the movement.  Anyone anywhere can donate, email, make a tweet or a beat, and be part of this global campaign! For all the campaign info, go to www.nextaid.org/wad2010

About NextAid –
NextAid is an LA-based nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of music to support sustainable development projects that serve vulnerable children, youth and women in Africa. Through music events and public education initiatives, NextAid provides empowering opportunities for concerned individuals to make a difference.  www.nextaid.org

About World AIDS Day –
World AIDS Day is a day when individuals and organizations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. This year marks the 22^nd anniversary of World AIDS Day with the theme of “Universal Access and Human Rights.” The human rights approach is comprehensive, tying directly into the response needed for universal access to treatment, prevention, care and support. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done. More information can be found at www.worldaidscampaign.org.

About Family Affair –

Family Affair is an event & marketing company based in Los Angeles specializing in raising money and awareness for social and environmental causes. The company has created and developed “Parties with a Purpose” which focus on the idea of “Responsible Entertainment” combining fun entertainment, education, and empowerment to deliver a powerful and emotional message inspiring guests to make a difference on the planet. In the past 2 years, Family Affair has partnered with some incredible organizations which include Trees for the Future, The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, The 11th Hour Action Campaign, Tree Media, Surfrider Foundation, The Algalita Marine Research Foundation, Give A Glass, and more. www.family-affair.org

About HearME –

HearME’s mission is to connect orphans around the globe by providing them with computers, music software, and an online studio enabling them to collaborate with each other across cultural boundaries.  The organization aims to bring empowerment, peace, and understanding through music. HearME has Hubs in Iraq, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, and Puerto Rico. The goal of HearME for The Sound Alliance is to raise money for the Los Angeles Hub which creates online classes for children to view around the world. For more information and to see videos please visit http://hearmehub.com.

About Green Wave –

Green Wave is a 501(c)(3) human/planet service agency providing green education & coaching through consulting, campaigns, workshops, collaborative projects, and volunteer retreats. Green Wave believes in teaching by creating living examples in order to lead future generations to a sustainable future. The organization’s mission is to inspire waves of change focused on living peacefully and harmoniously with the environment and with each other for the conscious well being of our planet. Green Wave’s goal is to create a legion of international ambassadors to assist in the creation and support of powerful education initiatives and eco- friendly developments with collaborating nonprofits on a global scale. www.inspiringwavesofchange.org

About Africa10 –

Africa10 uses film, music, and social media to inspire soccer fans and non-fans alike to celebrate the power of the game in Africa and support African unity. At the heart of it all is a character-driven feature length documentary that tells the story of a diverse group of Africans across the continent to illuminate the transformative power of soccer. Subjects range from impoverished fans to soccer super stars such as Sulley Muntari and Abedi Pelé, musicians such as Femi Kuti and will.i.am to African dignitaries Kofi Annan and Desmond Tutu. Proceeds from the Africa10 project go towards supporting charities such as Grassroot Soccer and Right to Play who use soccer and sport to teach life skills and create change in Africa. Find out more at Africa10.com

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For more information please contact Susan von Seggern on susanvonseggern@nextaid.org or 213-840-0077.