By Mikkel Hyldebrandt
Joining Hearts kicks off their annual fundraising calendar with Love on The Rocks that this year is themed REVERIE – a fantasy of how we can dream up a world where we lift each other up instead of bringing each other down. Peach talked to Jerry Henderson, President of Joining Hearts, about this year’s event and how they have switched things up once again.Â
Love On the Rocks under the theme ‘Reverie’ is coming up on February 8. What kind of dreamy scenarios have you put together for us?
We have partnered with a new DJ this year, as well as a new venue to switch things up.
This year, the event is at the Frazer Center – what can we expect from the new venue?
The Committee chose this venue due to the location and amenities that meet the needs of the organization, and we wanted to highlight the venue since it is a nonprofit as well and to give our guests a warm welcome appeal that they come to expect from attending our events.
What are some of the highlights of this year’s Love On the Rocks event?
Each year, our Host Committee spends countless hours planning and strategizing to make the experience fun for our guests. We have special entertainment in store as well as a live auction of items. We will have beats by DJ Eric James, delicious bites by Sun In My Belly, and specialty cocktails provided by Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
Traditionally, you have revealed the theme of the main summer pool party event – will anything be revealed this year?
Yes, we will be revealing the theme and DJs of the Main Event as well as other activities we have in store for the Joining Hearts Weekend. Save the date of July 18 for this always sell out event.
If you can’t attend this event, are there other ways you can support Joining Hearts?
Our community needs our support more than ever to combat the stigma as well as the transmission of HIV. While other major cities are seeing substantial decreases in their rates, Atlanta rates are increasing at a rather alarming rate. We, as a community, must act now. We offer a variety of ways to support our organization. You can become a Patron where you get VIP access to all our events for a minimal cost that can be paid by various means or just make a monetary donation. Visit our website joininghearts.org for more information on how you can GET INVOLVED.
How will the money raised at this event benefit our community?
Every dollar that we raise through donations by way of admission sales and tips directly impacts our community to various organizations that provide services to those impacted by HIV/AIDs via a grant that each organization submits to the organization for review. Last year, Joining Hearts awarded grants to Jerusalem House, AID Atlanta, Project Open Hand, Hope ATL, and Lost and Found Youth.
Get your last-minute tickets to Love On the Rocks: REVERIE, and learn more about how you can support Joining Hearts by visiting joininghearts.org.