LONG BEACH, Calif. – For the 20th year, Long Beach’s drag queens and LGBTQ leaders led a month-long effort to raise money for services for People Living with HIV at the CARE Center of Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center. Their effort was focused on building awareness around the critical need for these services.
Easter Walk was founded by Sheeya Mann, also known as Rick White, who had an unwavering compassion to help all residents impacted by HIV. Sheeya led a movement by simply walking from restaurant to bars along the Broadway corridor. In celebration of the 20th Anniversary, Sheeya returned as the guest of honor for a well-attended gala held at Hamburger Mary’s in downtown Long Beach.
This year, Easter Walk raised more than $27,000 to ensure comprehensive services of CARE continue in one of the region’s most HIV impacted communities, Long Beach. Ace Robinson, CARE’s Executive Director, stated, “It’s amazing to see such far-reaching and unfettered support for us. Many of these ladies, local bartenders, waiters, and baristas, gave up their tips for days or even weeks to support CARE. It is humbling and inspiring to have the community rally behind us to that level.”
