World AIDS Day = December 1. And, this year, 2008, marks the 20-year anniversary of this holiday. This year’s holiday is also marked with the theme “Leadership,” encouraging all the leaders of the world, at any level, to stop AIDS. (World Aids Campaign)
The tradition that began in 1988 unites individuals and organizations from all over the world and centers around AIDS awareness and the common cause of the disease.
Statistics show that over 10,000 Philadelphia residents are living with AIDS as of December 31, 2007.
In the United States, there were an estimated 1.2 million people living with HIV in 2007.
And, globally, there were an estimated 2.7 million new infections during 2007 along with an estimated 2 million HIV-related deaths. (Aids Library)
World AIDS Day Events:
Pennsylvania
The Circle of Care non-profit organization will host a World AIDS Day event at the Cobbs Creek Recreation Center at 63rd and Walnut Streets. (Circle of Care Philly)
Bucks County Community College will hold a closing reception for its “Paper Prayers” fifth annual exhibition from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Artistically decorated strips of paper or “paper prayers” were created and hung in commemoration of World AIDS Day. The prayers will be sold to raise money for the Family Service Association, which provides prevention education, housing assistance, support groups, and other help to people infected by the HIV/AIDS virus. (Bucks.edu)
The Broad Street Ministry along with Sapphire Fund are holding an event from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm to honor those who have died from AIDS, celebrate those who are living well with AIDS and dedicate themselves to the cause of a cure. The event will be held at 315 South Broad Street (across the street from the Kimmel Center). Mayor Nutter will make remarks. (Broad Street Ministry)
Michener Art Museum will hold a vigil and dance performance beginning at 6:00 pm. The candlelight vigil will begin at Starbucks Coffee in Doylestown and head over to the Michener Art Museum also in Doylestown where visitors can check out the Children's Gallery exhibition, The Gift of Giving VII, and watch a dance performance. (Michener Museum)
New Jersey
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral along with Trenton Minority HIV/AIDS Sharing Network will have a dinner and candlelight vigil beginning at 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the church located at 801 W. State St. Also featured will be an AIDS memorial quilt and HIV testing services. (NJ.com)
Delaware
AIDS Delaware will celebrate with a religious service and candlelight vigil at First and Central Presbyterian Church (11th and Market St., Wilmington, DE) at 7:00 pm.
A Program of Hope and Candlelight Walk of Remembrance The Sussex County AIDS Council (SCAC) will hold it’s fifth annual honoring at the Downtown Laurel Park at 6:00 pm. (Delaware HIV.org)
If you were in charge of World AIDS Day what would you do? Find out what these individuals had to say at thebody.com.
