Virtual A Time for Heroes Celebration Honors Leaders in Fight for an AIDS-Free Generation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Daniel Pino, Manager, Media Relations & External Engagement
dpino@pedaids.org
(703) 597 2766
October 27, 2021 — Washington, D.C. — Today, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation hosts its annual A Time for Heroes fundraiser. This year’s event will be held virtually and will honor three heroes who have made considerable strides in the fight for an AIDS-free generation. The first A Time for Heroes was held over thirty years ago and was organized by Elizabeth Glaser and EGPAF co-founders Susie Zeegen and Susan DeLaurentis. “Together, three remarkable women started an important tradition of raising vital funds to address inequities around pediatric AIDS that continues to this day,” said EGPAF President and CEO Charles Lyons. “While the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the global health community more than ever before – our ability to come together and coalesce around a singular goal of ending not one – but two pandemics – is especially critical. Rather than be deterred from celebrating our remarkable heroes, EGPAF has adapted to the challenges posed by COVID and transformed this year’s A Time for Heroes to a virtual format where we will honor the partners and heroes who bring us closer to an AIDS free generation every day,” said Lyons.
Dr. John Nkengasong, Director of Africa CDC and the Biden Administration’s nominee to lead PEPFAR, will receive the Innovation Hero Award for his global work to end HIV and COVID-19. In Dr. Nkengasong’s words he highlighted the importance of the EGPAF partnerships in the fight against HIV, he said: “the challenges that we face are huge and cannot be met only with investment from the public sector. We have to, and must strategically include the private sector and other partners like EGPAF so that collectively we are aligned the same goals and targets.”
Stacy Meyer, Vice President, Africa Implementation & Impact, Global Public Health at Johnson & Johnson Pvt. Ltd. will receive the Corporate Hero award on behalf of Johnson & Johnson for their life-saving efforts in the fight against HIV in eastern & sub-Saharan Africa. “In order to make HIV history, we need to keep up the fight – and keep innovating, from the lab to the last mile, to ensure that we have the best tools available to treat and prevent this disease and that those tools reach those most in need,” said Meyer.
EGPAF’s Senior Youth Ambassador, Dee Mphafi Tanka will receive the Frontline Hero award for her work to end HIV stigma and engage young people around the world in care for their HIV. Said Tanka, “If we have young people at the forefront of all the services provided for young people, then we’ll have more young people accessing those services.”
Lastly, Dr. Linda-Gail Bekker, professor of medicine and Chief Operating Officer of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, will present a special lecture entitled, “Wider Cracks – More Loss: COVID-19, HIV, and Children.”
“We must remain nimble and vigilant in adapting to the challenges posed by COVID if we are to meet our goal of ending HIV in children, youth, and families,” said Lyons. “Fighting for an AIDS-free generation does not lie with one person, one company, or one country. It takes all of us, and today’s heroes are emblematic of that fact,” he continued.
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About the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF)
EGPAF is a proven leader in the fight for an AIDS-free generation and has reached over 31 million pregnant women with services to prevent transmission of HIV to their babies. Founded in 1988, EGPAF has supported over 15,000 sites and currently works in 17 countries to offer HIV counseling, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services alongside high-quality family health care. Each stage of life—from infancy to adulthood—brings new and different challenges, and EGPAF is driven to see a world where no other mother, child, or family is devastated by this disease. For more information, visit pedaids.org.
