The Aids Coalition of Story County is putting a call out for faculty, staff and students of Iowa State to take part in its largest fundraiser of the year.

The “Night of One Hundred Stars” is a party concept where people ask friends, co-workers, family and others to their houses for a party. Money will be collected from the parties and used to benefit AIDS patients in Central Iowa.

Kirk Bragg, executive director of the Des Moines based AIDS project of central Iowa, said the goal is to have 100 parties and raise $100,000. The coalition raised $80,000 last year.

Bragg said the parties can be simple, such as a barbecue and a gathering of just a few friends, or it can be more elaborate such as a formal sit-down dinner.

“We tend to think smaller parties are more successful,” Bragg said. It gives people more of a chance to tell what the AIDS project is all about.

“We don’t recommend that people have minimum amounts,” Bragg said. The project will accept any amount of money.

Most of the parties will be held during April and May. Bragg said a big party will be held on May 18 in Des Moines for all the people who gave money. It doesn’t matter how much money a person has donated, they are still invited to the party.

“Most people do it [have their parties] that weekend, but they don’t have to,” Bragg said.

Martha Grant, chair of the AIDS Coalition of Story County, said they are “really recruiting hard this year” to find people willing to throw parties.

She said the parties can be any size, but it depends on what the host wants to do. “The hosts are responsible for the guest lists,” Grant said. The invitations to the parties are provided by the coalition.

Because they need to know how many invitations to make, Grant said the coalition needs to hear from people willing to have a party by the last week in March, at the latest.

A dessert reception will be held at the Knoll on May 3 for all those people who donate $50 or more. President Martin Jischke and his wife will host the reception.

“There’s just such a tremendous need because a lot of expenses our clients need are not covered by insurance programs,” Grant said. Expenses such as food, medication and a place to live are all included.

Bragg said the money will also be used to support HIV prevention efforts in central Iowa.

Anyone interested in hosting a party should call Grant at 292-8043, the AIDS Coalition of Story County at 292-5487 or the AIDS project of central Iowa at 284-0245.