Still Shining at 35
A Celebration and Remembrance
29 Stanhope Street, Boston, MA
Monday, December 2, 2024
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Please contact Shauna Helton, Deputy Director of Development, at shelton@vpi.org or (617) 318-3434 ext. 146 with any questions or to RSVP by November 18th. Space is limited!
A meaningful donation with your RSVP is appreciated.
Victory Programs’ Boston Living Center (BLC) is celebrating 35 years of dedicated service to the HIV/AIDS community. On the heels of World AIDS Day, we invite you to gather on Monday, December 2, 2024, at the BLC with members, current and past supporters, and community partners to celebrate this momentous occasion and to pay tribute to those living with and lost to HIV/AIDS.
A Remembrance Vigil will be held at 4:00 p.m. on the steps of the Boston Public Library located on Dartmouth Street at Copley Square with Victory Programs and the Boston Living Center Community.
Immediately following the vigil, we will gather at the BLC at 5:30 p.m. for dinner, remarks, and to honor Rev. Judy Mannheim.
If you’d prefer to skip the vigil or arrive early for the dinner celebration, the BLC will be open to guests starting at 4:00 p.m.
The dinner course is generously donated by The Buttery!
Judy Mannheim: Peter Daniel Clark Award Recipient
Rev. Judy Mannheim is a dedicated Unitarian Universalist minister with over forty years of experience, having served congregations in Massachusetts, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. Her commitment to HIV/AIDS advocacy and her work with the Boston Living Center (BLC) spans decades.
She was part of the BLC’s Interfaith Pastoral Care Team from its inception in 1999 until its end in 2019 and delivered the Invocation at BLC’s Celebration of Life for seven consecutive years. Affectionately known as the “soup lady” to BLC members, she volunteered weekly, offering meals and spiritual support to all. Rev. Judy is a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
About the Boston Living Center
At the height of the AIDS epidemic, when medical professionals and even the government were reluctant to investigate the cause of AIDS because of prejudicial biases, a small group of people living with the virus organized a Thanksgiving dinner for people feeling isolated from family and friends.
The start of regular, informal dinners held in the homes of people impacted by HIV offered a safe space where HIV+ people could talk openly about their status, fears, hopes, and needs, paving the way for what would soon become the Boston Living Center. On Monday, October 6, 1989, the BLC first opened its doors, and in 2012, the BLC officially merged with Victory Programs.
We have witnessed great progress since the first World AIDS Day 36 years ago, and Victory Programs is proud to be a part of that progress with you by our side. But the fight is not over. Until there’s a cure, Victory Programs recommits our promise to continue uplifting those living with HIV/AIDS through education, prevention, testing, and compassion.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Victory Partner
Anonymous
Patrick McNamara
Christine & Larry Carsman
Michael Gannon & Brandon Ortiz
Victory Advocate
Victory Supporter
Ray Delano & Michael Fay
Jamie Pierce
Eliot Tatelman
Interested in sponsoring?
Corporations, foundations, and individuals have long supported Victory Programs to help make our mission possible. As an event sponsor, you will have a direct and positive impact in our communities while promoting your company and its core values.
To learn more about sponsoring Still Shining at 35, view our sponsorship packet below or contact Deputy Director of Development Shauna Helton by email shelton@vpi.org or phone (617) 785-9219.