Please join us at a Memorial Service honoring and celebrating the life and achievements of Mel Cheren. The Service will be held on the evening of Thursday, January 17th at Saint Peter’s Church in New York City between 7pm and 9pm; doors will open at 6:30pm. To help remember Mel, there will be a blessing by Rabbi Cohen, performances by West End recording artist Marty Thomas who will perform “I Was Born this Way,” Taana Gardner and Dawn Tallman who will perform “Save a Place on the Dance Floor,” as well as testimonials by friends, family members, and leaders in the music industry.

Saint Peter’s Church is located at 619 Lexington Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets, entrance on 54th between Lexington and Third.

A reception will be held immediately following the Service at Mel’s place, the Colonial House Inn located at 318 West 22nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues (website: www.colonialhouseinn.com). Colonial House Inn was not only Mel’s residence but is also an award winning bed and breakfast operating for over 20 years. The reception will be held in the lobby which houses some of Mel’s original artwork as well as The 24 Hours for Life Gallery. A gallery Mel dedicated to the late artist, Keith Haring, who designed the logo for 24 Hours for Life, an AIDS charity Mel founded and fiscal sponsor for LIFEbeat.

Donations in Mel’s honor can be made to GMHC, 119 West 24th Street , New York, New York 10011; The LGBT Community Center at 208 West 13th Street, New York, New York 10011; or LIFEbeat, 630 9th Avenue Suite 1010 New York, New York 10036.

Mel’s book, “My Life and the Paradise Garage” and other West-End and Paradise garage memorabilia will be available for purchase, the proceeds to go to the three named organizations.

Please pass this announcement along to your friends, colleagues and organization’s members who might wish to attend.

For more information please contact Lisa M. Rivera or Karen Blaine at Reiss Eisenpress LLP at (212) 753-2424.