Light in the Grove 2025

BRING YOUR LIGHT

Join us at Light in the Grove, a powerful celebration supporting the essential mission and programs of the National AIDS Memorial. This breathtaking community experience has been recognized as the Bay Area’s best LGBTQ+ fundraising event and includes:

A champagne or sparkling beverage stroll through the magically-lit Grove
Imaginative artistic features
Enchanting dance and musical performances
A candlelight reflection at the Circle of Friends

Moving displays of the AIDS Memorial Quilt
Inspirational reflections from featured guest speakers
Gourmet hors d’oeuvres, dinner, sweets, and beverage stations

TICKETS AVAILABLE Now!

Spotlight

We’re proud to welcome back Sister Roma as our distinguished emcee for Light in the Grove. A beloved member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, she brings her signature blend of wit, warmth, and spirit to this powerful evening of remembrance and love. For more than 30 years, Sister Roma has been a bold voice for LGBTQ+ rights, HIV/AIDS awareness, and social justice. Her presence reminds us that joy, visibility, and community are essential parts of remembrance.

As a writer, speaker, and community leader, Race Bannon has worked tirelessly to destigmatize sexual health and uplift those most impacted by HIV.

For over four decades, Race has been a leading voice in LGBTQ+ health, kink-positive activism, and HIV/AIDS education. His work has helped shape more inclusive conversations about wellness, identity, & human connection—
making an indelible impact on generations of advocates.

We are proud to recognize Race Bannon with the Lifetime of Commitment Award.

SHINING YOUR LIGHT

Our Vision: Never again will a community be harmed because of fear, silence, discrimination, or stigma.

Together, we work to ensure that the story of AIDS be told in perpetuity, and used as a teaching tool to rally current and future generations in the continuing fight for health, racial, and social justice.

For three decades, we’ve worked to advance our mission through our essential programs. We bring communities together through our Grove Community Volunteer Workdays, Quilt community displays, youth activist scholarships, AIDS storytelling programs, and inspiring events.

All of this would not be possible without your continued support. Thank you for your friendship, love, and commitment to our mission.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2025

6:00PM - 9:30PM

NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE
NANCY PELOSI DRIVE & BOWLING GREEN DRIVE
GOLDEN GATE PARK

BECOME A HOST | PURCHASE TICKETS

Visit the Light in the Grove: Eventbrite page
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Contact Oscar Fabian at: ofabian@aidsmemorial.org
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Scan the QR code →

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

Thank you to our gracious hosts

PRISM

Colleen & Robert D. Haas
Dan Ripley & Jeff Bruce
Ed Ow
Frank Ching & Charley Kearns

Jon Retsky & Dustin Finkle
Mike Richey & Chris Winslow
Patrick Batt on behalf of the Castro Community Meeting Room
Williams and Hart Rainbow Fund of Horizons Foundation

ILLUMINATION

Alex Sloan & Excelerate Foundation
Bart Vis
Butch Trusty & Kino Mostany
David Gleba
Jeff Genette & Geo Welch

Joseph Sobiesiak & William Hicks
Lisa Bransten & John Rumsey
Martin Tian & Tom Raffin
Robert Friedman
Stuart Kent & Mark Pellegrino

GLOW

Barbara G Maury & Bonnie J Johnson
Bruce S. Pan & J. Paul Reed
Casey Reed
Karteek Patel & Colin Petheram
Lance Henderson

Matthew Denckla
Ron Adams & Leah Ogden
Sara Schwartz & Kenneth Blum
Wally Bowman & Russ Parker

REFLECTION

Alan Winslow (Rig Daddy)
Alex Ingersoll & Martin Tannenbaum
Angela Laffan and Cooper Marcus
Beth Myler, JD, LCSW, Psychotherapy
Beth Ross & Laurie Trupin
Castro Country Club
Constance de Laveaga Stoops & Robert M Stoops
Dan & Angela Ashley
Dan Dodd | The Dan Dodd Group
Dave Paulus
David Gin & Gary Nathan
Drew Cushing & Ralph Burr
Eric Collier & Joseph Newell
J Wolford
Jamie & Michael Moore
Jeffrey Foote
John G Montfort

JSRE Partners
Judy Auerbach & Mark Abramson
Kevin Schwanfelder
Letitia Moore
Lonnie Payne-Clark & Bruce Clark
Mario P Diaz
Mark Leno
Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco
Mickey Cogliandro
Molly Singer
Onyx & Ash
Paul Loeffler & Mike Sullivan
Reviv Serums / Vance Nesbitt
Richard Bogan & Frank DiPelesi
Sylvia & David Inchausti
Terry Huwe & Doug James

MIRROR

Alan Tabor
Alegria Barclay
Alex Walker
Blake Spears
Brad & Alejandro Troutman-Diesta
Carmela Krantz
Dan Cawley and Tim Schuman
Deb & Charlie Denison
Dennis Alexander Reilly
Ed Gibbons
Edward Gatta Jr & Jonathan Vaccaro
IGBO - International Gay Bowling Organization
John B. Cunningham
Joseph Grubb
Leslie Ewing
Marsha Raulston and Marge Boric
Michael D. Shriver

Oscar Fabian & August Becker
Patricia Tuohy
Paul Graffagnino and Rick Frautschi
Paul Scott & Scott Simons
Peter J Vizcaino and Victor Antonetti
Riley Shea
Robin Lewis
Scott Balentine
Shanéa Thomas
Shanthi Noriega Minichiello
Steve Gallagher / Coldwell Banker
Steve Holt
Suzanne Schmidt Kennedy & Linda C. Schmidt
Todd Criter
Tom Jensen
Tom Sheffler & Bill Stewart