Kickoff for AIDS Event

A week that ended with an international AIDS awareness day opened in San Diego with a reception, given the Sunday before Thanksgiving, for the host committee of “An Event in 3 Acts,” the national tour of the new “Heart Strings” show and the AIDS Memorial Quilt that will commence in San Diego on Feb. 8.

Given at the lavish La Jolla Shores home of socialites Jane and Joseph Baker, both members of the AIDS fund-raiser’s host committee, the reception offered crab salad and other fare donated by the Gaslamp Quarter’s Johnny M’s 801 restaurant and addresses by local Heart Strings director Ron Ferrero and others associated with the multi-featured event.

Among those attending were honorary event chairs Marilyn and Kim Fletcher (who share their duties with Mayor Maureen O’Connor and former San Diego Charger Kellen Winslow, neither of whom attended) and hotelier and AIDS Foundation board member Anne Evans. Cookbook author Jeanne Jones, chairwoman of the host committee, also missed the reception, thanks to the requirements of a national signing tour for her newest work.

The local leg of the “Event in 3 Acts” itinerary--34 cities will be visited after the San Diego premiere--is expected to earn about $500,000, most of which will be spent in this county, according to Ferrero. One recipient of funds will be the group’s student outreach program, which intends to involve about 40,000 students from the primary through university levels.

“Education is essential,” said Jane Baker, in the forecourt of whose home hung Memorial Quilt panels, each sewn in memory of an AIDS victim. “I believe very much in the seriousness of this situation, especially with the need for education of kids, who just can’t seem to get the idea in their heads that they can catch this disease.”

At the reception, Ferrero announced that the “Event in 3 Acts,” subtitled “Heart Strings--the AIDS Memorial Quilt--And You,” will consist of three quite individual segments, of which the third, most unusually, will operate strictly on the emotional level, in that some of those who view the performance or the quilt may be inspired to volunteer their assistance to local AIDS service organizations.

The main segment of the event will be the Feb. 8 gala premiere of the new “Heart Strings,” a musical production to be given at Symphony Hall that will feature a number of nationally known entertainers as well as a gospel choir, a men’s chorus and 10 children. The original version of the “Heart Strings” show toured the United States in 1989 and 1990, with a sold-out performance at Symphony Hall in January, 1990. In the top-price category, 500 VIP tickets will be available at $250 each and will entitle guests to a buffet dinner in Golden Hall (12 teams of one chef, designer and florist each will create the dozen elaborate food stations), select seating at Symphony Hall and a post-performance dessert party at Golden Hall.

Ferrero said his gala will copy the details of a successful “Heart Strings” benefit given in Boston in 1990.

As a companion event to the musical production, a large portion of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, begun in 1987 and now numbering some 8,300 3-by-6-foot panels, will be displayed in the Price Center ballroom at UC-San Diego. Viewing, which will begin Feb. 6, will be reserved exclusively for students until the 7 P.M. ceremonial grand opening to the general public on Feb. 7.

For further information on the event, call the “Event in 3 Acts” office at 236-7060.

SAN DIEGO--Nearer at hand, the holiday calendar is not overly crowded with events, although several perennial fund-raisers have reserved their customary weekends.

One long-running and ever-popular benefit will coincide, as always, with the annual Parade of Lights on San Diego Bay Dec. 15. The Star of India Auxiliary to the San Diego Maritime Museum will host its annual buffet and viewing party aboard the ferryboat Berkeley, which will be tied up at its customary space on the Embarcadero.

The museum fund-raiser will start at 5 p.m. and will continue until the conclusion of the parade, or about 8:30 p.m., and will include a buffet dinner and prime seats for viewing. Tickets cost $25 each for adults, and $12.50 for children aged 4 to 12 years. Warm, casual clothing is the suggested dress. For further information, call the San Diego Maritime Museum.

In North County, the ninth annual “Light Up a Life” tree-lighting ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. Dec. 22 at the Sefton Clock Pavilion at the Wild Animal Park as a benefit for The Elizabeth Hospice, a care provider for the terminally ill allied with Palomar Medical Center and Pomerado Hospital. Retired orchestra leader Lawrence Welk serves as honorary chair of the event.

Admission will be open to those donors who contribute $15 to place a light upon the tree (or $25 for two lights), or $100 to hang a personalized memorial ornament that will be returned to the contributor after the holiday season. For information, call 739-2118.