Elton John will headline a landmark HIV/AIDS awareness concert and fundraiser in Philadelphia on July 4, 2005.

The city that gave the world Live Aid, raising unparalleled global awareness and funds for the fight against hunger, is about to step into the spotlight again -- this time in the critical fight against HIV/AIDS.

In an extraordinary collaboration, Mayor John F. Street, together with Mark Segal, president of the Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld Fund, and Pennsylvania Senator Vincent J. Fumo (D-Philadelphia), announced that Elton John will be coming to Philadelphia to headline the PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM CONCERT & BALL on Monday, July 4, 2005, to raise two million dollars for HIV/AIDS awareness.

Proceeds will be split to support the grant making activities of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which raises international awareness and resources for HIV prevention and care services, and the Hirschfeld Fund, which was created to raise and distribute funds for HIV/AIDS research, education, and prevention, and for the promotion of human rights, which will allocate funds to regional HIV/AIDS service provider organizations.

In a statement broadcast live by satellite, courtesy of Philadelphia's WPVI-TV 6ABC from Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas where he is currently performing his new show, The Red Piano, Elton said: "Philadelphia has long been one of my favorite cities because it has always had an intrinsic spirit of freedom and compassion. This compassion has never been needed more than now. Having recently spent time in South Africa I saw first hand how the programs of the Elton John AIDS Foundation are really assisting in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

It will be a long fight, and one that must be met with strength and compassion, but we can all make a difference. I met with vulnerable and orphaned children who have been left destitute. There are three quarters of a million such children in South Africa alone and eleven million on the continent. Please join me on the 4th of July in Philadelphia for 'Philadelphia Freedom' to help raise AIDS awareness and much needed funds."

The Philadelphia Freedom Concert will kick off at 8:30pm, in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. With an expected audience of over 1.5 million, the free concert event and fireworks display celebrating America's Independence Day will be followed at 11pm by a fundraising Ball that will engender support from leaders in the arenas of business, entertainment, philanthropy and public service, for the fight against HIV/AIDS. In addition to the Ball, monies will be raised by reaching out to good corporate neighbors through sponsorship, as well as concessions at the concert. The concert will be broadcast regionally by WPVI-TV.

For more information on the PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM CONCERT & BALL, or the Magnus Hirschfeld Fund, or to purchase tickets or make donations, please visit http://www.phillyfreedom.net or call 1. 800. 917. 4389.

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