Family Ambassadors
Ben Banks
Ben and Kasiah (Photo: Getty Images) |
Ben's Story of Hope
"I had to face the reality that the blood that saved my life from cancer 10 years earlier gave me HIV. I went from no medications to being put on AZT. AZT was available to children because of Elizabeth Glaser."
Ben, 31, has been living with HIV since childhood. He lives in Ashland, Virginia, with his wife Kasiah, whom he married in 2003.
Read about Ben's appearance at an HIV/AIDS community discussion hosted by the White House.
Julie Jones Barnes
Julie (right) with Tanya Torres (Photo: EGPAF) |
Julie's Story of Hope
"I experienced the negativity of how HIV affects one's life, through discrimination with school peers. So I’m trying to get involved so that other kids know that what they have doesn’t define who they are."
Julie, 21, acquired HIV through mother-to-child transmission. She has been speaking for the Foundation since childhood.
The Belfiore Family
The Belfiore kids (Photo: Belfiore family) |
The Belfiores' Story of Hope
"The medicine that our children need was made possible because of the work of the Foundation. We want to help other families and we are grateful that there is an organization like the Foundation that can show us the way."
In 1990, Bill and Susan Belfiore adopted four children from Romania, all of whom are living with HIV. They live in Princeton, New Jersey, with their five children: Ramona, Ionel, Loredana, Mihaela, and Aiden.
Joey DiPaolo
Joey DiPaolo (Photo: EGPAF) |
Joey's Story of Hope
"One thing about the Foundation is that it is a family. I’ve known Elizabeth since 1993 and ever since then I’ve been blessed to be part of the Foundation family."
As a child, Joey, 30, acquired HIV through a blood transfusion during open heart surgery. He has been raising awareness about the disease as a speaker since 1990.
Jamie Gentille
Jamie with her husband Paul (Photo: EGPAF) |
Jamie's Story of Hope
"I’d like to thank the Foundation for helping to give people like me a chance at life. Elizabeth Glaser fought to give children access to the lifesaving medications that I received. I'm hopeful that people in our country and all over the world will have the same resources that I did to thrive in this world, living with HIV."
Jamie Gentille contracted HIV during heart surgery when she was three years old. She is now 30 and working as a child life specialist for a hospital in Virginia.
Sylvia and Caleb Glover
Sylvia (right) and Caleb (Photo: EGPAF) |
Sylvia and Caleb's Story of Hope
"Most people don't understand that discrimination around AIDS hurts kids and grown-ups as much as the disease itself. We need to keep educating so people understand the facts about HIV and AIDS."
As a foster parent, Sylvia has devoted her life to giving children a chance at a full life. But when her adopted son, Caleb, wasn’t allowed to swim in a public pool because he was HIV-positive, Sylvia knew it wasn’t right. And she got involved.
From left: Alee, Yonas, Clay, Mitchell, and Suzan Meredith.
The Meredith Family
From left: Alee, Yonas, Clay, Mitchell, Suzan (Photo: Meredith family) |
The Merediths' Story of Hope
"The difference between where we were a decade ago and where we are now is like night and day. We're not scared of HIV anymore. Thanks to the Foundation, we have hope for the future."
Suzan Meredith unknowingly transmitted HIV to both her daughter, Alee, and son, Mitchell, at birth. Suzan and her husband Clay, who live in Kentucky, recently adopted a third child, Yonas, from Ethiopia. Yonas is also living with HIV.
Marty Mitchell
Marty Mitchell (Photo: EGPAF) |
Marty's Story of Hope
"Brett led a very full life, which I am so thankful for. Just because Brett’s struggle with HIV is over does not mean that I will ever stop fighting or educating about this virus, nor should any of us."
Marty's son, Brett Lykins, passed away due to AIDS in 2007, at the age of 27. In honor of her son's memory, Marty continues to speak on HIV/AIDS issues.
Florence Ngobeni
Florence and Alex (Photo: Florence Ngobeni) |
Florence's Story of Hope
"I can tell you that losing a child to HIV is the worst thing a mother can go through. When I lost Nomthunzi, I cried for a long time. Then I decided to stand up and try to make a difference."
In 1994, Florence lost her five-month-old baby, Nomthunzi, to AIDS. Today, Florence lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is the proud mother of Alex, a healthy four-year-old boy.
Cristina Pena
Cristina and her boyfriend Chris (Photo: EGPAF) |
Cristina's Story of Hope
"Through my HIV, I’ve learned the art of balance. The beautiful paradox about my life with HIV is that it is cruel and beautiful; tough and simple; and predictable and random."
Cristina was infected with HIV at birth and has been an advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS throughout her life. She graduated from college with a degree in journalism and lives in California.
Read about Cristina's visit to the White House.
Marilyn Rodriguez
Marilyn (Photo: EGPAF) |
Marilyn's Story of Hope
"We have to keep working together and invest the necessary resources until we win the fight against HIV/AIDS. It’s not about how much; it’s about how many. There are a lot of lives to be saved."
Marilyn lost both her parents and her sister, Ana, to AIDS. Marilyn has continued speaking to young people about the need for increased HIV awareness and funding.
Cameron Siemers
Cameron with actress Courteney Cox at the A Time for Heroes Celebrity Carnival (Photo: EGPAF) |
Cameron's Story of Hope
"We are far from done in the fight against AIDS. This disease is smart and if we don't continue to do research, it will win. But if you don't have a positive attitude, most likely you'll lose. That's my family's motto: Keep a positive attitude."
Cameron contracted HIV through a blood transfusion when he was seven. His disease proved particularly difficult to treat: None of the limited number of HIV drugs approved for children worked for him. Only recently has Cameron, now 27, found a regimen that allows him to manage his disease.
Jill Vargas
Jill (right) with Jenna (center) and Mya (Photo: EGPAF) |
"Although I was devastated to find out my baby was positive when she was born, we have come to realize that this is not the end, it is just a different way that we will live our lives. Today, I do not cry because Jenna has HIV. I cry because she has so much potential."
Jill is the mother of two beautiful girls, Mya, 18, and Jenna, 5. Jill unknowingly passed the virus to Jenna during pregnancy.