Video Hall of Fame 2009 Beneficiary: The Entertainment AIDS Alliance

This is the first time in the 29-year history of the Video Hall of Fame that the gala will benefit the EAA, the home entertainment industry charity that funds AIDS research and service organizations throughout North America.

To date, the 20-year-old EAA has distributed more than $4.3 million to more than 200 national and community-based organizations. They include those that provide client services to people living with HIV and AIDS, institutions that conduct research for AIDS treatment and prevention, and advocacy groups that help shape and promote public policy to advance AIDS issues.

The EAA is run almost entirely by volunteers, and more than 90% of the funds raised are distributed to qualified beneficiaries. The organization is supported by employees and companies in home entertainment, film, music and video-game software, including distributors, manufacturers, retailers and associated industries.

EAA was formed in 1989 by a small group of video industry professionals who saw a continuing lack of services and support for people with AIDS. Some had been personally affected, having lost friends to the disease. The group started a grassroots foundation, the non-profit Video Industry AIDS Action Committee (VIAAC), now called EAA.

Marc Berman, a writer for Variety and Video Business, led the initial effort. Unfortunately, he died from the effects of AIDS in 1993. But his efforts, along with those of his friends and colleagues, have helped thousands of others.

Beneficiaries have included the AIDS Action Council & Foundation, the International Assn. of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC), the UCLA AIDS Institute, AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), the Actors Fund AIDS Initiative, the Southwest Boulevard Family Health Center in Kansas City and many others across North America.

In recognition of the highly commendable efforts of the dedicated members of the video industry, EAA was inducted into the Video Hall of Fame in 1994.

For more information on EAA, go to EntertainmentAIDSAlliance.org.

EAA's Visionary Awards Honorary Committee

Harold I. Huttas, Committee Chair
Ivey Performance Marketing, L.A., President

Victor Adams
MSG Entertainment, VP of Creative Services

Jeff Almeida
Bemis Balkind, Senior Account Executive

George Anderson
Cimarron Group, President of Home Entertainment

Peter Bemis
Bemis Balkind, CEO

Jennifer Dunlap
Summit Entertainment, VP of Home Entertainment Marketing Creative Services

Robert Farina
Cimarron Group, CEO and Owner

Lisa M. Feldman
Aspect Ratio, VP and Creative Director

Mark Hassen
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, VP of Creative Services—Print

Cindy Hauser
The Ant Farm, Executive Creative Director

Lane Livingston
Q Design Industries, President

Kelly Nielsen
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Senior VP of Worldwide Creative Advertising

Matt Rice
BLT & Associates, Head of Home Entertainment and Videogames

Ardis Rubenstein
Warner Home Video, Senior VP of Worldwide Creative Advertising

Eric Sandifer
LAgraphico, Account Executive

Patrick Seeholzer
Color Service, President

Stephanie Sigel
Universal Studios Home Entertainment, VP

Vu Tran
Studio Agenda, Owner