Making Music, Raising Money

Music is not only a health-boosting tool for HIVers, it's also an extremely fruitful approach to raising money for vital AIDS services, according to Rodney Waters, artistic director for AIDS Foundation Houston's Mukuru Arts for AIDS festival. Now in its fourth year, the event includes a series of six musical performances, ranging from classical to Latin jazz. The proceeds of all ticket sales support the foundation's range of HIV-related services and programs. To date, the annual Mukuru events have raised about $150,000. 'It's a very enriching and entertaining way to remind people that the epidemic is still a serious problem,' Waters says. 'I really see myself as a double agent: I get the HIV message out to people in the arts community, and I get to introduce supporters of AFH to beautiful music they might not discover on their own.' Click on the link in the Related Links box on this page for more information about this year's Mukuru festival.