Washington Blade - January 19, 2007
Zack Rosen

The event is being held at the Harriman Mansion, the Georgetown home of Dr. James D'Orta, and will be catered by Italian restaurant Cafe Milano. Set to raise money for four local charities - Food and Friends, Us Helping Us, Whitman-Walker Clinic and Metro TeenAIDS - the benefit is expected to draw several local dignitaries. The honorary chairs are Mayor Adrian Fenty and his wife Michelle Cross Fenty, and gay City Councilmembers Jim Graham and David Catania are among the evening's honorary co-chairs.

Entertainment will be provided by Washington resident and Helen Hayes Award-winning actress Sheri Edelen. Most recently seen as Frauline Kost in Arena Stage's production of "Cabaret" and applauded by audiences at gay-favorite Signature Theater, Edelen will be performing a short vocal set to the piano accompaniment of George Fulginitti Shakar. Besides performing "Les Miserables'" "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables," which is a standard at Arts in Action benefits, Edelen will do several other songs, most likely Cole Porter or Irving Berlin ditties of a slightly lighter tone.

"I've done a great deal of benefits for AIDS, AIDS alliances and the like," Edelen says.

AN ENTIRELY VOLUNTEER-RUN organization with no budget or permanent office, Arts in Action was started 11 years ago by Peter Rosenstein. Administrative costs are donated by Rosenstein and several other individuals, so that all proceeds raised can go directly to the selected beneficiaries. All other services provided - from graphic design work to reception refreshments - are donated by community volunteers.

"You just ask people, and if they believe in what you're doing, they just say 'yes,'" Rosenstein says. "When you do these things, it's a lot of knocking on people's doors and saying 'Would you help, would you offer your talent, would you offer your home.' For an issue like HIV/AIDS, which is an epidemic in D.C. at this point, people are very generous when you act."

The Harriman Mansion is a home with a grand history befitting the evening's theatrical performance. The mansion is named for deceased former occupant Pamela Harriman, who at various points in her life was daughter-in-law to Winston Churchill, wife to Broadway producer Leland Hayward and United States Ambassador to France during Bill Clinton's presidency.

James D'Orta, a physician and business owner, has lived in the house for the last 10 years. Though D'Orta has hosted more than 20 charity events there, this fundraiser holds a more personal connection for him.

"The primary motivation for [hosting this event] is in support of my friend Peter Rosenstein, who interestingly enough is celebrating his birthday on the same night," D'Orta says. "I think it really speaks a lot of Peter - who's obviously been an activist in many arenas within our city - for him to give up his birthday and use the event to support those of us who are afflicted in the city of his residence ... it really moved me."

HIV/AIDS is an important issue to Rosenstein, who has a long history of working with local HIV/AIDS organizations, including serving a stint on the development committee of Whitman-Walker Clinic. He also writes an occasional column for the Blade.

"I have many friends that died of AIDS, and I believed that we really needed to do something about this," says Rosenstein. "The GLBT community has found that you can't always rely on government; you need partnership between community and government."

D.C.'s HIV/AIDS organizations have certainly benefited from Arts in Action's support. Past fundraisers featuring big name entertainment, including the casts of "Angels in America" and "Ragtime" and a live performance by Roberta Flack, have brought in money for local HIV/AIDS causes. One of the biggest events in the organization's history, this year's benefit is expected to sell 200 tickets and raise about $40,000, organizers say.

Food and Friends, a charity that provides meals to people with AIDS and other terminal illnesses, is dependent on the contributions of individuals and organizations for funding help.

"We've been the recipient of funds from Arts in Action for several years and are really grateful," says Craig Shniderman, executive director of Food and Friends. "We have a long-standing relationship with them and Peter [Rosenstein], and those funds make a tremendous difference in terms of our ability to provide care."

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