The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) celebrated its 25th annual A Time for Heroes family festival on Sunday, Oct. 19 at the BookBindery in Culver City. The event, which honored pediatrician Peter Waldstein, M.D. for his longtime commitment to A Time for Heroes and advancing the work of EGPAF, raised funds and awareness for the effort to achieve an AIDS-free generation.
Celebrity attendees at A Time for Heroes included Celebrity Heroes Henry Winkler, Julie Bowen, Donald Faison, Judy Greer, and EJ Johnson. Denise Richards, Zach Braff, Neal McDonough, Jaime Pressly, Dot-Marie Jones from Fox's "Glee," Fall Out Boy musician Pete Wentz, MTV's "Awkward" cast members Ashley Rickards and Beau Mirchoff; Rowan Blanchard and August Maturo from the Disney Channel's "Girl Meets World," Keahu Kahuanui from MTV's "Teen Wolf,"entertainer Kyle Massey, actresses Aimee Carrero, Perrey Reeves, and Kate Linder were also in attendance. "Survivor" host Jeff Probst, "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast member Adrienne Maloof, and young actors Nolan Gould from ABC's "Modern Family," star of NBC's "About a Boy" Benjamin Stockham, Yara Shahidi from ABC's "Blackish," and "The Hunger Games'" Willow Shields also showed their support for a world where no child has AIDS. Hollywood Records recording artist and actress on Disney Channel's "Girl Meets World" Sabrina Carpenter closed the event with an acoustic musical performance.
"My mother believed that each one of us can be a hero, that each one of us has a role in changing the world. And together we have done just that," said Jake Glaser, son of Elizabeth Glaser and EGPAF Foundation Ambassador. "EGPAF's longtime partner Jewelers for Children will donate $1 for every person who signs on to our pledge for an AIDS-free generation at pedaids.org/AIDSFreeGen. And better yet, JFC will match donations made by pledge signers, doubling the impact of their gifts. This action will raise critical fund and awareness to end AIDS in children."
Co-founder Susie Zeegen said of event honoree Peter Waldstein, M.D., "Through his leadership and support of our events and our mission, Dr. Peter has helped us raise over $6 million dollars to advance our lifesaving work. To help understand what this means, that kind of support allows us to reach 300,000 pregnant women with services to block HIV transmission to their babies."
Since 1989, A Time for Heroes has raised nearly $35 million to support EGPAF's work to end AIDS in children.
"Today is about celebrating our commitment to creating an AIDS-free generation," remarked Charles Lyons, EGPAF president and CEO. "Simply put, without the support of each one of you, we would not be where we are today. For that we are truly thankful, and will continue our global efforts – until no child has AIDS."
View and download photos from A Time for Heroes at pedaids.org/ATFH25photos. (Please credit: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation).
Families in attendance enjoyed fun activities, including games in the Disney Area, t-shirt screen printing with Modern Advocate, Ink+Cotton, and artist Annie Preece, face painting with Cinema Make-Up School, as well as football, basketball, and rock climbing.
Some of LA's top eateries, including Akasha, Along Came Mary, Beacon Catering and Pink's, delighted everyone with parent and kid-friendly refreshments.
Research reveals how children develop understanding of words