She is doing the right thing!
A Brooklyn health organization honored Clinton Hill actress Rosie Perez at a Downtown gala on Tuesday, celebrating her efforts to educate people about HIV and AIDS and champion those living with the disease — and the gratitude was a long time coming, organizers said.
“She has done a lot for the field and no one has really recognized her for it,” said Spencer Casseus, a spokesman for Bridging Access to Care — formerly the Brooklyn AIDS Taskforce — which works to connect HIV-positive Brooklynites to housing and health care.
The outfit presented the Bushwick-born performer — who is a member of President Obama’s Advisory Council on HIV-AIDS and has been advocating for awareness since the early ’90s — with its humanitarian award for her work.
The event took place on World AIDS Day, and the organization’s director was thrilled the “Fearless” actress chose to attend the hometown gala on the such an important date.
“She said she could have been anywhere on World AIDS Day and she chose to be in the community with us,” said executive director Glenda Smith.
Around 200 people showed up to the shindig — which also honored Poz Magazine editor-in-chief Oriol Gutierrez — raising money for the organization through ticket-sales and raffles.
Furniture giant Raymour and Flanigan hosted the bash in its Fulton Street showroom, and a store rep said the company was thrilled to do its part.
“It’s great being able to give back to the community and see how people reacted to what we do,” said store manager Arsalan Baig.
