THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 19, 1996 TAG: 9607190507
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 60 lines
A waxing quarter moon will hang in Saturday's night sky, but a full one will shine on Bill Dougherty's dinner-party guests.
The electric faux-moon globe, held aloft with helium, is one of an array of items and services donated by 17 Virginia Beach and Norfolk businesses for the Virginia Beach florist's ``First International Potluck Dinner'' to benefit the Norfolk-based CANDII program.
The Children's AIDS Network Designed for Interfaith Involvement serves children with AIDS or HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and their families.
All of Dougherty's 65 invited guests will bring an ethnic dish to share, then pay $20 each at the door of his Lynnwood home. Thanks to participating businesses, all of the money will go to CANDII.
Dougherty, 46, wanted to help local children infected with HIV and AIDS but didn't know how, he admits, because he's not emotionally equipped to get involved in any hands-on way.
``I could not do'' what CANDII volunteers do, Dougherty said, to help children in South Hampton Roads who have contracted HIV and AIDS. ``They are truly the primary victims of this disease.''
Dougherty, who owns Eclectic Design Florist and Gifts on Laskin Road, was impressed with the response to a recent public fund-raiser for CANDII, so he did some brainstorming and came up with a plan to engage his business peers and friends in the project.
``A party was going to happen anyway,'' he said, but ``now I get to have a party, and CANDII benefits.''
CANDII, with a satellite office in Newport News, is the state's only pediatric AIDS service organization. Staff and volunteers work to improve the quality of life for victims and their families. Their efforts include day care, trips to the zoo and birthday celebrations.
CANDII was founded in 1990 by Sister Mary Joan Kentz of Sacred Heart Church in Norfolk. Today, the program serves approximately 100 children and family members in Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore and rural areas of southeastern Virginia.
CANDII works closely with Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, the Portsmouth Naval Hospital, EDMARC Hospice and other public and private organizations involved in the care of HIV- and AIDS-infected children.
Hampton Roads has the highest incidence of HIV and AIDS in the state - more than 5,000 cases - according to Sarah McCaskill, administrative assistant for CANDII. She plans to attend Dougherty's party, which has turned into a pretty posh affair.
Guests will be served by professional models, eat from fine china and drink out of the best stemware. The finest linens will adorn the tables in his Japanese-American garden.
There will be Armenian humus spread, traditional Irish lamb stew and Moroccan couscous with chicken, as well as native dishes from Lebanon, Spain, Vietnam, China and other countries. MEMO: For more information on CANDII, call 640-0929. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Bill Dougherty organized a benefit party for the Norfolk-based
CANDII program, which serves children with HIV and AIDS, and their
families. Sixty-five guests will pay $20 apiece to attend the
function, with all of the money going to the charity. by CNB