Victory Programs Celebrates Life

The Victory Programs' Boston Living Center's annual Celebration of Life Holiday Party for the HIV/AIDS community returned to the Hynes Convention Center for the 30th year of the event founded by Peter Daniel Clark as a gathering for friends to celebrate another year of survival during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Although Peter passed away of AIDS-related complications in 1992, his sister, Debbie Fellman, still attends the event to present an award in his honor to an individual or group selected for outstanding service to the HIV/AIDS community.

This year's winner, Daniel Faucher, known to many as Verna Turbulence, has been hosting benefits for the Boston Living Center for more than 20 years. The event also featured the presentation of the 2nd Annual Brenda Bellizeare "Better It Gets" award to Rob Quinn, a member of the Boston Living Center, for his inspirational leadership across the State. The event attracted more than 700 guests who enjoyed live entertainment by the Back Bay Ringers, Verna Turbulence and Friends, Woza Moya and dance hits spun by DJ Ollie, a resource fair featuring more than 30 local organizations, a traditional sit down holiday meal at tables decorated with unique centerpieces designed and donated specifically for the event, family pictures with Boston Santa and winter readiness kits provided by Bank of America and Temple Beth Avodah.
The event serves as the largest fundraiser of the year for vital services at the Boston Living Center and is projected to raise more than $130,000.