FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Russell Batten, Development Officer
PHONE: (253) 383-2565, ext. 209
E-MAIL: [email protected]
FAX: (253) 597-6682

LOCAL WORLD AIDS DAY EVENT TO FOCUS ON WOMEN AND GIRLS

TACOMA, WA (Nov. 10, 2004)—In an effort to reach residents of Pierce County with the message that AIDS is not over, the Pierce County AIDS Foundation (PCAF) along with other allied agencies will hold the county’s annual World AIDS Day Service of Remembrance on Wed., Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church (310 North “K” Street, Tacoma).

This year’s international World AIDS Day highlights the theme "Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS" and focuses on how gender inequality fuels the AIDS epidemic. The theme was conceived to help accelerate the global response to HIV and AIDS by encouraging people to address female vulnerability to HIV.

Around half of all people living with HIV in the world are female. “Pierce County has always served a higher percentage of women, people of color, and adolescents. PCAF, for instance, is serving more than twice as many women as the state’s average,” said Jeannie Darneille, Executive Director of the Pierce County AIDS Foundation. "With infection rates continuing to rise in Pierce County, we feel it has become critical to bring our messages of awareness, prevention and sensitivity to as many people as possible—especially to women and adolescent girls," she continued.

For the past eighteen years, December 1st has been a day of bringing messages of compassion, hope, solidarity and understanding about AIDS to every country in the world. The program at this year’s Pierce County World AIDS Day Service of Remembrance include presentations of WALKFESTdirect! grant awards to four local organization who benefited from the proceeds of this year’s AIDS Walk Fest. Recipients include: People of Color Against AIDS Network, AIDS Housing Association of Tacoma, Planned Parenthood Teen Council, and Community Health Care. In addition to the awarding of the grants, the event will also feature the presentation of two community service awards, one to the Univ. of Puget Sound’s Theatre Arts Department and the other to Milgard Manufacturing. Musical performances by pipe organist Bill Giddings and vocalist Tim Menard, as well as a candle lighting in memory of people lost to AIDS is also planned.

The event is free and open to the public.

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“Building Communities to Save Lives.”

The Pierce County AIDS Foundation, through education and service, prevents HIV infection, assists persons
affected by HIV/AIDS, addresses related health problems, and combats associated stigma and discrimination.

This page updated   12/04/04  ©Pierce County AIDS Foundation
Contact PCAF: 253-383-2565 FAX: 597-6682 TTY: 627-7830
Pierce County Crisis Hotline: 253-798-4333 800-576-7764
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