A sell out every year, Light in the Grove (6pm-9:30pm) brings together more than 600 people on the eve of World AIDS Day, and for one enchanting evening, the Grove is artistically illuminated to honor the sense of loss and to celebrate the spirit of hope.

Join us for our 7th annual Light in the Grove fundraising gala on November 30, co-chaired this year by Kate Kendell and Martin Tannenbaum.

A sell out every year, Light in the Grove brings together more than 600 people on the eve of World AIDS Day, and for one enchanting evening, the Grove is artistically illuminated to honor the sense of loss and to celebrate the spirit of hope. Guests experience a candlelight reflection at the Circle of Friends, and wander reflectively through the spectacularly-illuminated Redwood Grove to a warmly-lit tent. Awaiting them are friends, old and new, festive cocktails, passed hors d’oeuvres and a gourmet buffet, with special musical and choreographed artistic performances.

This year we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Grove’s creation.

As you know, it is a dedicated space in the national landscape where countless individuals touched by AIDS gather to heal, hope, and remember. Through passage of legislation spearheaded by Representative Nancy Pelosi and signed by President Bill Clinton, the Grove became a national memorial in 1996. Today, the Grove continues to provide a place of remembrance so that the lives of people who died from AIDS are never forgotten, and the stories of the epidemic – stories of profound love, courage, resilience and unrelenting mobilization for social justice – are known by future generations.

Our Light in the Grove ‘Lifetime of Commitment’ honoree this year is Mr. Alvin Baum.

Al Baum is known throughout San Francisco for his decades of unwavering philanthropy, activism and leadership in support of the HIV/AIDS and LGBT communities. We are humbled to pay tribute to a man who has long served as a pillar of our community, a man dedicated to improving lives and creating opportunities for others with a generous heart and without fanfare.

Funds raised support the programs and continued maintenance of this breathtaking national memorial so that the story of AIDS – and the critical lessons contained therein – will be known by, and inspire, future generations.