Elton John To Headline Free July 4th Concert in Philadelphia To Raise Money To Fight HIV/AIDS
British musician Elton John on Thursday announced that he will headline a free concert on July 4th in Philadelphia to raise funds to fight HIV/AIDS, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Although the concert, called the "Philadelphia Freedom Concert & Ball," is open to the general public for no charge, organizers of the event are hoping to raise an expected $2 million in donations to be split between the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld Fund, which will distribute funds to local Philadelphia HIV/AIDS service providers (Cusick, Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/10). John will perform with Peter Nero and the Philadelphia Orchestra at the event, according to the AP/Miami Herald (AP/Miami Herald, 2/10). "Philadelphia has long been one of my favorite cities because it has always had an intrinsic spirit of freedom and compassion," John said, adding, "This compassion has never been needed more than now" (Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/10).
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