Obama names Medal of Freedom recipients, including Harvey Milk …
President Obama, attempting to spotlight those who have acted as “agents of change,” today announced that he will bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor, on a cast of living and deceased figures widely known in politics, the arts and sciences, sports and social movements.
The 16 honorees named by the White House today include Harvey Milk, the San Francisco city supervisor who led an early movement for gay rights in public life and was assassinated. They include the late Republican Congressman Jack Kemp, a football legend as well, and the ailing Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts.
The president’s choices, who will be honored at a White House ceremony Aug. 12, include American civil-rights activist the Rev. Joseph Lowery and South African freedom fighter Desmond Tutu. They include a pioneer in sports for women, tennis star Billie Jean King, and the first woman on the Supreme Court, retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
They include actor Sidney Poitier and singer Chita Rivera.
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Obama names Medal of Freedom recipients, including Harvey Milk …
They include actor Sidney Poitier and singer Chita Rivera.
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Duane Reade Announces Premier-Level Sponsorship of AIDS Walk New York
~Announces Partnership to Provide New Yorkers with Free HIV/AIDS Testing~
NEW YORK, NY — Duane Reade Holdings, Inc. today announced that The Duane Reade Charitable Foundation has doubled its support from last year and will donate $100,000 as a Premier-level sponsor of AIDS Walk New York (AWNY). AWNY raises funds for Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) and fifty other AIDS service organizations in the New York tri-state area. AWNY is the world’s largest HIV/AIDS fundraising event and has raised more than $100 million since 1996. This year’s 10-kilometer AWNY is expected to attract more than 45,000 participants and will be held in New York City’s Central Park on Sunday, May 17th, 2009. In partnership with GMHC, Duane Reade will also provide free, confidential, on-the-spot, HIV testing starting in June 2009 in several neighborhoods/locations throughout the New York metropolitan area.
Jim Scarfone, Senior Vice President Human Resources & Administration for Duane Reade and a Trustee of The Duane Reade Charitable Foundation, commented, “As the only uniquely New York drug store chain, Duane Reade understands the needs of our city’s residents and strives to give back to the community in meaningful ways. As such, we are very pleased to support GMHC and the 2009 AIDS Walk New York for the third straight year and join in their efforts to promote awareness and prevention of the spread of HIV in New York City. Moreover, we are pleased to be able to double our support for the 2009 walk, and to partner with GMHC to provide free, confidential and on-the-spot HIV testing through their mobile testing unit for the second year.”
According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City has more residents living with HIV or AIDS than any other city in the United States. More than 100,000 New Yorkers currently live with HIV, a virus that has become the third leading cause of death for New Yorkers under the age of 65. More than 1,000 New Yorkers each year find out they are HIV-positive when they already have AIDS due to a lack of testing, prevention, and education about the disease.
“We are immensely grateful for Duane Reade’s outstanding support of AIDS Walk New York and our partnership in expanding HIV testing throughout the boroughs,” said Marjorie J. Hill, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Gay Men’s Health Crisis. “Having a trusted family friend like Duane Reade as a partner helps us to continue breaking through the barriers associated with HIV testing such as stigma, fear and lack of access to care. With their ongoing help, we will continue to find the one of four HIV-positive New Yorkers who are unaware of their HIV status, and provide them with the information and care they need.”
To learn more about AIDS Walk New York and its benefactors, please visit www.aidswalk.net/newyork.
To learn more about GMHC, please visit http://www.gmhc.org/.
The Duane Reade Charitable Foundation was formed in March 2007 and is committed to supporting charitable organizations that promote health and wellness in New York’s communities. A portion of the charity’s budget is also reserved to support programs that address local community needs.
About Duane Reade
Uniquely New York since 1960, Duane Reade is the largest drug store chain in the metropolitan New York City area. Focused on making the lives of New Yorkers easier, Duane Reade offers a wide variety of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, health and beauty care items, cosmetics and other daily essentials — How I Feel, How I Look, and What I Need Now — in over 250 convenient locations.
Web Site: http://www.aidswalk.net/ newyork See * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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