ABC AND amfAR PARTNER TO CELEBRATE "GENERAL HOSPITAL'S" 50TH ANNIVERSARY

"General Hospital" Reprises the Popular Nurses Ball

ABC has joined forces with amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, in celebration of "General Hospital's" 50th Anniversary with an exciting storyline integration. Approaching 50 historic years on ABC on April 1 and to help mark the show's Golden Anniversary, "General Hospital" will reprise the immensely popular Nurses Ball, a fictional charity event complete with musical performances from the illustrious citizens of Port Charles dedicated to HIV/AIDS awareness. The partnership with amfAR marks the first time that the Nurses Ball will be linked to a non-fictional charity, and helps to continue amfAR's vastly important mission of raising HIV/AIDS awareness. The inaugural Nurses Ball aired in 1994 and became an annual event until 2001.

"'General Hospital' is proud to be working with amfAR as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary," said Executive Producer Frank Valentini. "We have pulled out all the stops to make the return of the Nurses Ball an event worth waiting for, and by linking the ball to amfAR we partner in their efforts to raise awareness beyond the town of Port Charles."

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Founded in 1985, amfAR is dedicated to ending the global AIDS epidemic through innovative research. amfAR-funded research has increased the understanding of HIV and has helped lay the groundwork for major advances in the study and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

About "General Hospital":

"General Hospital," the most honored show of the 2012 Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards, celebrates its golden anniversary on April 1, 2013. Approaching 50 historic years on ABC, "General Hospital" is the longest running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest-running drama in American television history. "General Hospital" was created by Frank and Doris Hursley. Frank Valentini is the executive producer. Ron Carlivati is the head writer. "General Hospital" airs weekdays at 2:00 p.m., ET /1:00 p.m., PT/CT on the ABC Television Network.

About amfAR:

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Since 1985 amfAR has invested more than $366 million in its programs and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide. For more information, please visit www.amfar.org.

In 1983 Dr. Mathilde Krim co-founded the AIDS Medical Foundation (AMF) in New York to help raise private funds to support research on AIDS. In 1985 "General Hospital" alum, global superstar and activist Elizabeth Taylor co-founded the National AIDS Research Foundation (NARF) in Los Angeles. Later in 1985, the two organizations joined to become the American Foundation for AIDS Research - amfAR. In 2005, reflecting the Foundation's international scope, the name was changed to amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.