Joan Rivers to Host Desert AIDS Project Awards

Comedian Joan Rivers will host the Desert AIDS Project’s Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards tonight, a spokesman said.

Actresses Queen Latifah and Megan Mullally, singer Wynonna Judd and Broadway performer David Burnham also are expected to attend the awards gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center, Desert AIDS Project spokesman Barry Dayton said.

Gala co-chair Barbara Keller said more than $1.33 million was raised at last year’s gala to support client services at the Desert AIDS Project, which offers medical care, case management, social services and free HIV testing at several locations in the area.

“We are so excited to have such an incredible range of entertainment and a force-of-nature like Joan Rivers hosting the 2012 Steve Chase gala,” Keller said.