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World AIDS Day 2003: Thailand Plaza, Thai Town
Jury Candelario, APAIT Executive Director; Marissa Castro-Silvati - Public Affairs Director: Southern California Edison, Community Corporate Awardee; Amy Hill, Event Emcee and Community Artist Awardee; John Wirfs, APAIT Board President; Rob Lai, Jeanne Yeo-Ishikawa and J. Craig Fong, Esq. - Community Leadership Awardees. Not in picture: Noel Alumit - Community Service (Milestone) Awardee.

On December 6, 2003, the Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team observed World AIDS Day at the Thailand Plaza in Hollywood. Emceed by actress Amy Hill, the audience of more than 150 attendees were treated to “An Evening of Awareness and Acceptance,” celebrated with dancers, singers, and musicians.

Representing various ethnicities within the Asian and Pacific Islander community, the show included Hawaiian ceremonial chant, Hawaiian dance, a Thai dance of benediction, Filipino and Japanese-American singers, and culminated with a taiko performance courtesy of a UC Irvine student-led drum group. APAIT also presented a red AIDS ribbon constructed from paper crane origami. In Japanese culture these cranes have traditionally been given or made to fulfill someone’s wish; alternatively, they were made famous after World War II following Hiroshima resident Sadako Sasaki’s attempt to make 1,000 as part of her hopes to be cured of radiation-induced leukemia. As a part of APAIT’s World AIDS Day services, they memorialize those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

APAIT recognized one organization and various individuals for their contribution to HIV/AIDS activism. They included Southern California Edison for the Community Corporate Award; Amy Hill for the Community Artist Award; Community Leadership Award-winners Rob Lai, Jeannie Yeo-Ishikawa, and J. Craig Fong, Esq.; and Noel Alumit for the Community Service Award.