TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Pennsylvania Senator Vincent Hughes' voice is reverberating at the XVI International AIDS Conference being held this week in Toronto, Canada. At the start of the conference on Sunday, August 13, 2006, Hughes presented on a panel that explored "The Way Forward: The State of AIDS In Black America." He also participated in a press conference held earlier today that included Julian Bond, Chairman of the NAACP, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, Cheryl Cooper, National Council of Negro Women, George Curry, National Newspaper Publishers Association, H. Alexander Robinson, National Black Justice Coalition, Grazell Howard, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and Pernessa Seele, The Balm In Gilead, among others.
"Make no mistake about it, HIV/AIDS continues to be a serious threat to our community that simply won't just go away. We are gathered here 30,000 strong to keep the issue of HIV/AIDS awareness at the forefront of public discourse and to strengthen our resolve to mobilize and attack it on all fronts," Hughes said.
Hughes is part of a special, national African-American delegation convened by the Black AIDS Institute of Los Angeles, CA, to help ensure a strong, organized presence of leaders, elected officials, celebrities, media personalities, policy makers, and other high-profile individuals who are involved in activities that address numerous issues related to HIV/AIDS.
Former President Bill Clinton and Chairman and Chief Software Architect for Microsoft Bill Gates, also are among those who have converged on Toronto to participate in conference activities.
On the issue of HIV/AIDS, Hughes' efforts to raise awareness, galvanize support, and identify critical resources are widely recognized. He is credited with helping to facilitate the largest increases in HIV funding in Pennsylvania's history, for the past three consecutive years. In addition he successfully secured a $500,000 grant in early 2006 for Keystone Hospice through the Governor's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to enable the facility to expand its services and enhance its ability to care for more patients affected by HIV/AIDS.
Hughes' hands-on work and his leadership have been recognized both locally and nationally. He was awarded the John Blue Award from BEBASHI - Transition to Hope, an AIDS service provider located in North Philadelphia where AIDS cases are the highest in the city. The national Black AIDS Institute, the first Black HIV/AIDS policy center dedicated to reducing HIV/AIDS health disparities, also recognized him with its prestigious Heroes in the Struggle Award in 2005.
On December 1, 2006, he will be recognized as one of three honorees to receive the Red Ribbon Award by the Center For AIDS Research at the University of Pennsylvania.