Release courtesy of Fireworks Sports Marketing
NEW YORK, NY – – While his contemporaries may be dancing with stars, doing “family” ice shows or just trying to catch their breath after the Vancouver Winter Olympics, Johnny Weir is using his heightened celebrity status to get behind a diversified list of charities and causes. “It’s just what I was taught by my parents,” Weir says. “When you’re in a position to help people, you should do it,” he added.
It was announced today that Weir would host 88 for AIDS, a May 6th fundraiser to support AidsWalk New York and Team 119, the mental health clinic at GMHC. The classical piano concert and cocktail reception will be held in a spectacular Tribeca penthouse loft and will feature buff bartenders from modelbartenders.com pouring Ultimat Vodka cocktails. Tickets to the event are available at www.88forAIDS.com
Weir recently returned from Chicago where he starred in Cuties’ Ice Dreams with the city’s best 18 and under skaters, encouraging them to follow their dreams whatever they might be. This was followed by Figure Skating in Harlem, a New York City charitable event to support educational and athletic programs in Harlem where hundreds of underserved kids are privately tutored and taught to ice skate.
The skater has also committed to Ice Theatre of New York, a non-profit art theatre group that invited him to skate on April 29th because of his outstanding gift of artistry to the skating community and his ability to be daring. Mr. Weir has lent his support to nPLAY, a coalition of elite athletes from eight different sports, led by Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce, whose goal is to raise funds to fight children’s obesity. On April 18th in Los Angeles, Weir will be honored by Equality California at a private reception recognizing his important message to young people about being who they are and feeling the freedom to express themselves.
Since the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the “outspoken and outrageous” Weir has appeared on a plethora of TV talk shows from “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” to “LIVE! With Regis & Kelly,” not to mention starring in his own reality series, “Be Good Johnny Weir,” on the Sundance channel. He is a three time national champion, two time Olympian and is currently in talks with potential sponsors to help produce his own ice spectacular. When asked to comment on his interest and dedication to charitable causes, Weir took a line from his realty show, “When I’m good, I’m very good…”
