The United Nations has proclaimed “Getting to Zero” as the campaign theme of World AIDS Day 2011. To mark the occasion, the AIDS Service Foundation of Greater Kansas City will host two public events.
The first event is a Community Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, 4801 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, Mo. The keynote speaker will be Julie Scofield, executive director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. The alliance represents public health employees from every state and U.S. territories who are directly responsible for the care, treatment, and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Phil Witt, Fox4 news anchorman, will serve as emcee.
The second event is a World AIDS Day Reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Burstert Studio, 122 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. A donation of $50 at the door is requested. Reservations for both the Community Luncheon and the Reception are required and can be made by calling Michael Lintecum at 816-931-0959. There is no charge for the Community Luncheon.
The goals of the Getting to Zero campaign focus on “zero” — zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths. Since 1993, the AIDS Service Foundation of Greater Kansas City has strived to provide funds and assistance to our local AIDS service organizations so that zero Kansas Citians living with HIV/AIDS lack the resources they need to live healthy, productive lives.
More than 1.1 million people are now living with HIV/AIDS in the United States. In Kansas City alone, more than 5,700 people are living with HIV/AIDS — 700 of them young people between the ages 13 and 24. Financial support of the World AIDS Day events will help provide prevention, treatment, shelter and the message of empowerment for those who need it most in Kansas City.
We invite you to join us for the World AIDS Day observances. With your continued support, we know that you join us in the hope that one day we will all know a world without HIV/AIDS.
John Pinkerton is president of the AIDS Service Foundation of Greater Kansas City.