Las Vegas Weekly

July 27, 2010 · 10:57 AM

AFAN asks community to Adopt a Piggy in fundraising effort

By Robin Leach

Photo: Courtesy

From July 14 through Aug. 4, Robin Leach will be relaxing under the Tuscan sun on his annual vacation and keeping his eyes on what’s happening in Las Vegas from Italy. Meantime, a kindly crew of Las Vegas celebrities and VIPs has agreed to write guest columns for Vegas DeLuxe.

By Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN), guest columnist

Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) was founded in 1984 and is the oldest and largest AIDS service organization in Nevada. Last year marked the 25th anniversary of practicing our unyielding commitment to the community by providing unparalleled health expertise, support and advocacy for adults and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada.

We have some creative new ways for you to get involved and support our mission in the HIV community of Southern Nevada.

During these tough economic times, our agency, like many, is encouraged to be more creative in our fundraising efforts. So we are asking the community to Adopt a Piggy! They may be adopted by completing a form online at AFANLV.org or in the AFAN offices (701 Shadow Lane, Suite 170, Las Vegas, NV 89106). Adopted Piggies may be picked up at the AFAN office or delivered by mail, so they can be shipped anywhere.

The 5-inch ceramic Piggy banks are each personalized with a birth certificate -- just put the Piggy in a visible place (they love attention), fatten them up with coins (they love paper money, too), and on World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, bring them back with a full tummy, and all money raised will benefit those affected with HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada.

Once a month, we also plan to host a “Pig Out” at a local restaurant. Simply bring your Piggy by to be emptied and receive a discount coupon for the restaurant. We’ll keep track of the funds so your Piggy gets credit. Top Five Piggies will be listed on our Web site. We also will have orphan Piggies on hand and available for adoption.

Discounted tickets to our annual Black & White Party are available at all Pig Out locations. The Black & White Party is at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel for the second consecutive year from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Aug. 21.

This year the very energetic Mary Murphy from So You Think You Can Dance and our very own Chris Saldana with Channel 8 News are the co-hosts. As always, we will have sample tastings from some of Las Vegas’ premier restaurants and spirit vendors, plus music and great entertainment.

Some things that are happening later this year include A Night of Cabaret in October and our Kids Holiday Toy Drive in December. We’ll announce this year’s Night of Cabaret information later this month. For the toy drive, gift cards are always great in any amount to support buying gifts for children so they can receive something during the holidays. Donations can be made online or by stopping by our office. All donations are tax deductible.

Together we can make a difference!

Peepshow and Holly’s World star Josh Strickland and chefs Rick Moonen of RM Seafood in Mandalay Bay and Barry S. Dakake of N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms are tomorrow’s guest columnists.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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