Buy a 'Peace of Art' and support East Texas CARES | Community Spirit

From East Texas CARES (formerly Tyler Aids Services):

On Saturday, March 16, 2013, co-chairs Anwar Khalifa and Rabbi Neal Katz welcome the community to celebrate the 8th Annual Matisse March Madness fundraiser. 

The event is a silent art auction to raise funds for East Texas CARES (formerly Tyler Aids Services).  All artworks for auction are donated by local artists and/or supporters of East Texas CARES.  There will be over 75 pieces for auction, with prices to fit every budget. Tickets are $45 per person, with a reduced rate for students and $80 with the purchase of two tickets.

The event will begin at 6:00pm at The Market at the Crossing, 2210 Three Lakes Parkway, Tyler, Texas, the colorful new building next to FRESH.   Music will be provided by the George Faber Combo and food by Bernard’s and ZaZa’s.

Local community servants Anwar Khalifa and Rabbi Neal Katz were asked to co-chair the 2013 event.  Khalifa is a board member of East Texas CARES, and along with his friend Rabbi Katz, he is committed to the dual purposes of the organization, to combat the spread of HIV/Aids through effective education and to be a local resource to those in our community who are living with the disease. 

As a sign of their friendship, and their work with the many religious communities of East Texas, they are asking East Texans to come out to Matisse March Madness to buy a "PEACE of Art." Khalifa and Katz believe that "taking care of those in need, and offering a helping hand is part of being a healthy and holy community."

Nearly 1.4 million people are living with HIV infection in this country, and in our own community there nearly 12,000 persons.

Many people do not think about HIV much any longer,  at least not of its horrific impact. Since the days of Magic Johnson, the enhancements in medicines and HIV now being labeled a chronic health condition, this disease is now obsolete.

The face of HIV is becoming more Black, Latino and heterosexual, with women now attributing 90 percent of new infections to heterosexual contact.  Now HIV is threatening the health of our young people: 40 percent of the new infections are between ages 34 and 13.

East Texas CARES is a community-based resource center available to assist those living with HIV and to work with the community to prevent the further spread of this disease.  East Texas CARES Resource Center is a non-profit organization funded through charitable donations and limited grants. 

Fundraising events like Matisse March Madness are critical to the continued availability of resources to HIV-infected persons in the East Texas area. Tickets to Matisse March Madness event can be purchased through Eventbrite.com or at the East Texas CARES office.

For more information, please contact Jeanette Deas Calhoun, Executive Director of East Texas CARES at 903-372-5139.

You may also contact co-chairs Anwar Khalifa (903-530-6464) or Rabbi Neal Katz (903-372-2686).