AIDS Charity Honors KROQ Programming Chief

It wasn’t long ago that LIFEBeat, the music industry’s AIDS charity, didn’t have to worry about fund-raising. Donors called it, not the other way around. But AIDS apathy has become an epidemic of sorts, causing the 8-year-old nonprofit to redouble its efforts in raising HIV awareness among young people.

On Thursday, the organization honored KROQ-FM (106.1) programming chief Kevin Weatherley for work he’s done (and has yet to do) on behalf of LIFEBeat.

“The people we choose to honor are ones who have been involved in fighting AIDS and also can mobilize other people to help out,” said Sonya Lockett, LIFEBeat’s communications manager.

With half of AIDS infections occurring in people younger than 24, according to Lockett, the challenge is clear. “People are thinking that AIDS is under control,” she said. “And that goes for the people who provide our monetary support, which isn’t near the amount it used to be.”

Weatherley’s involvement helps on two fronts. Not only is his audience a healthy mix of Generations X and Y, he also has plenty of connections within the industry he can prod for assistance, financial and otherwise.

“The message is not getting through,” Weatherley said. “People have become desensitized. They feel it won’t affect them. My job is to enlighten in this area. The generation coming up is not really scared of AIDS anymore, but this disease remains a real threat.”

Weatherley joins rap impresario Russell Simmons and magazine publisher Bob Guccione Jr., among others, as past LIFEBeat honorees.