2011 Annual ADAP Leadership Awards

There comes a time when reflection is necessary, especially during the most challenging times. To characterize the last two years as "challenging" for people living with HIV/AIDS - including those patients who rely on accessing treatment under the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs ("ADAPs") - would be an understatement, to say the least. Funding cuts...waiting lists...eligibility changes...and even death have reminded the HIV/AIDS community of the serious challenges they faced during the 1980s and early 1990s. Yet, they persevere and continue to fight and "act up" to protect their lives.

The ADAP Advocacy Association (aaa+) contends that ADAP has long embodied what successful HIV/AIDS programs should look like, not only because ADAP keeps people living with HIV/AIDS healthy, productive members of their communities, but also because ADAP represents a strong public health 'Return on Investment' to the taxpayers.” In light of the escalating ADAP crisis, aaa+ feels that it is important to step back and reflect on the good work being done on ADAP by so many leaders - especially since during times like these it is often easy to focus on the crisis itself.

With that in mind, on May 11th a call for nominations was issued for the aaa+ 2011 Annual ADAP Leadership Awards, which will recognize individual, community, government and corporate leaders who are working to improve access to care and treatment under the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs.

A Call for Nominations has been issued for the following awards:

• ADAP Champion of the Year (individual)

• ADAP Emerging Leader of the Year (individual)

• ADAP Corporate Partner of the Year

• ADAP Community Organization of the Year

• ADAP Lawmaker of the Year

• ADAP Social Media Campaign of the Year

• ADAP Grassroots Campaign of the Year

• ADAP Media Story of the Year


The awards will be presented during the 1st Annual ADAP Leadership Awards Dinner, being hosted by aaa+ on Wednesday, July 6th at 7:00 pm in Washington, DC. The dinner will be held in conjunction with its 4th Annual Conference, being held at the Westin Washington DC City Center on July 5-7th. Jeffrey Lewis, President & CEO of the Heinz Family Philanthropies will be the keynote speaker.

Clearly these awards won't eliminate the ADAP waiting lists, or restore much-needed fundings. But, what they will demonstrate is that the advocacy and activism does make a meaningful difference in the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS, further reminding all of us why we're in this fight TOGETHER!