On World AIDS DAY, Chris Norwood’s Health People, the only NYC mentoring program for children whose parents have AIDS benefitted from a special evening introducing BELVEDERE Vodka’s Product Red Special Edition for Bono’s Product Red Campaign at the new club W.I.P. in New York.

Singer Lesley Gore hosted the PRODUCT RED Party which also featured an art sale of internationally acclaimed artist April Gornik’s limited edition signed lithograph, “The Woods”. The limited edition of 55 was created exclusively for Health People by Gornik a longtime supporter of the organization. Also on sale were large AIDS Day Banners made by the kids of Health People.

In addition to donating 50% of the ongoing profits from (PRODUCT) RED to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Belvedere donated direct funds to Health People, the South Bronx based organization that sponsors Kids-Helping-Kids, the only NYC mentoring program for children whose parents have AIDS.

Gore and former Elaine’s Restaurateur Diane Becker joined Health People’s founder and executive director Chris Norwood in welcoming guests to the party. Norwood’s brother film producer John Norwood also co-hosted and worked the crowd for his sister’s charity.

Lesley Gore, who will forever be identified with the memorable song of teenage angst, “It’s My Party,” was discovered by Quincy Jones. Her tune “You Don’t Own Me”  became a world-wide feminist anthem. She remains a performer and songwriter and continues to tour nationally performing all her hits from the 1960s. She has also appeared in Smokey Joe’s Café on Broadway and become much more involved in work behind the scenes. Collaborating with her brother, Michael, with whom she penned some of her own hits in the 1960s, Gore continues to write songs. Together the team turned out a number of songs for the popular movie Fame, including “Out Here on My Own,” which garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Song

Health People is unique in the United States as a groundbreaking peer organization which helps people from low-income communities become leaders to effectively fight chronic ill health. Started in 1990 as a women’s AIDS prevention and support program, Health People has grown to provide a full range of AIDS services for men, women and families, as well as to start a large community asthma program, New York’s first diabetes peer educators program and a community smoking cessation program. For more information about their programs visit www.healthpeople.org

Photos by Rafael Fondeur via Edward Callaghan and John Wegorzewski