Village People hit the stage Sunday

Disco icons the Village People will perform at the Friendship Gala & Live Auction, this Sunday, Sept. 30, on the lawn at the White Elephant Hotel.

Open bar cocktails and a small silent auction will kick off the celebration at 5 p.m., followed by a five-star dinner by Executive Chef Neil Hudson. Auctioneer Rafael Osona will lead the Live Auction, featuring fabulous destination packages such as Maui, Paris, Burgundy and a Rhine River Cruise; the artwork of Steven Pitliuk, Katie Trinkle Legge, Christine Sanford, David Lazarus and other wellknown island artists and tickets to a live broadcast of "Hardball" with Chris Matthews. Dancing to a live performance of the Village People will follow the dessert buffet

Event sponsorships of various levels, and single tickets, priced at $250 each, are still available. Contact NAN at 508-228-3955.

All live auction items may be viewed at www.nantucketaids.org.

With more than one million Americans living with HIV, and over four million infected with hepatitis, the Nantucket AIDS Network (NAN) relies on the funds raised at the Friendship Gala and auction events to continue its mission as a community leader in HIV and Hepatitis care, education and prevention

The one-of-a-kind Village People are synonymous with dance music. These six talented men combine energetic choreography with outrageous fun and lots of bumping and grinding singing and dancing, providing great entertainment for all.

Celebrating 30 years as the world's disco icons, Village People in 2006 performed a full schedule of fairs, festivals, universities and casinos throughout the United States as well as Canada, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Manila, Belgium, Spain and Germany and Hong Kong. And 2006 included their 28th trip to Australia!

NAN continues to provide free HIV and hepatitis testing and counseling services, community education and outreach projects to the island's growing population of atrisk individuals.

For its client base, which has doubled over the past two years, NAN maintains a comprehensive support program that includes case management, home care and transportation assistance. The organization has instituted the credited Peer to Peer Leadership course in Nantucket High School, and completed the third season of projectDiscovery, an integrated summer camp which brings together young students from the Bronx, New York City, New Orleans and Nantucket.