Keep a Child Alive

The Happiest Hour.

By Alexis Tirado, Head Blogger for IAAS.com

A few weeks ago, my team mate Vanessa, encouraged our staff to raise money for Keep a Child Alive. Why KCA? Well, Vanessa and I work for AK-Worldwide, Alicia Keys’ company. Alicia is the co-founder of KCA. The more I work with Alicia, the more I realize that there’s an urgent need to help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. Some startling facts:

• 10 million people worldwide living with HIV are still in need of ARV treatment.

• 15 million children have been orphaned by AIDS in Sub- Saharan Africa.

• 30 million people have died due to HIV/AIDS.

KCA is participating in the AIDS Walk, which is on Sunday, May 15. With Vanessa’s
encouragement, I pulled together a fundraiser in a few days to raise money for
KCA. In my mind I thought, Hmmm…how can I get family and friends together in a
short amount time? A happy hour of course! Who wouldn’t want to pay money for
an open bar and to help fight one of the biggest epidemics in the world? Luckily, I
befriended a bar owner a few weeks earlier. I think the stars were aligned, right?
Kyle Radzyminski, owner of Billy Hurricane’s in New York City, generously offered
KCA a happy hour for gratis. We charged $20 for each person and each $20 entrance fee went directly back to the organization. Amazing! On top of the open bar and 100% donation, KCA gave nice tote bags and a bracelet to each attendee. And we also served ridiculously yummy cupcakes (Red velvet and banana pudding cupcakes anyone?) courtesy of Millie Peartree Cupcakes.

In one hour alone, we raised $500 for Keep A Child Alive. We drank, we danced, we
bonded and most importantly, we became warriors in the fight against HIV/AIDS.