Filipino American musician and YouTube sensation AJ Rafael will appear at A3M’s first Spring for Hope Benefit on Sunday, June 1, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center Plaza, 244 S. San Pedro St. in Los Angeles.
“The fact that we can use music and entertainment to bring people together for a great cause is such an amazing thing, and I’m honored to be a part of it,” states Rafael. The singer is known for his catchy acoustic songs that have garnered over 100 million views on YouTube. He is also involved with other charities, including Autism Speaks.
The free Little Tokyo event will feature a lively evening dedicated to giving hope for patients in need of bone marrow transplants. Throughout the night, attendees will be able to enjoy delicious fare from The Mighty Boba Truck, Umaizo Truck, and Maui Natural Ice as they take in performances by up-and-coming artists Connie Lim, Miya Folick, and Leisure Brown, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. It’s also an opportunity to meet patients who have found their miracles, and donors who have donated their marrows to save lives.
A3M is a recruitment center for Be the Match, the marrow registry operated by the National Marrow Donor Program. For the past 23 years, they have been dedicated to serving African American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, mixed-race, and other minority patients who suffer from leukemia and related blood illnesses that can potentially be cured by bone marrow transplants. Services they offer include donor recruitment drives, culturally appropriate patient support services, and educational resources.
Shin Ito, executive director of A3M, states, “This is the perfect time to give new hope to patients, hope that they will have a chance for a new life.”
For event sponsorship opportunities and more information about A3M, contact Ashley Honma, community outreach and development specialist, at (213) 625-2802 ext. 114 or ahonma@a3mHOPE.org, or visit www.a3mHOPE.org.