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World AIDS Day Detroit and the Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan Welcome Ryan White's Mom, Jeanne White-Ginder for World AIDS Day, December 1st, 2011

DETROIT, Nov. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Fillmore Theater in Detroit will serve as World AIDS Day Detroit headquarters on Thursday, December 1, 2011. With unprecedented collaboration among metropolitan Detroit community based organizations, institutions, business and government leaders, World AIDS Day Detroit seeks to revitalize awareness regarding HIV and AIDS impact on individuals and communities.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111118/DC09921LOGO)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101123/HFMLOGO)

Launched by Wayne State University medical student, Phillip Kucab, World AIDS Day Detroit (WADD) is a grassroots campaign to provide a day of reflection, awareness and education. "Last year, I sat in a lecture acknowledging World AIDS Day with 300 other medical students. I was shocked to be the only student who seemed to know Ryan White's story," Kucab said. "I looked online for World AIDS Day events and found limited, small-scale activities taking place."

Kucab's lecture hall experience inspired him to launch World AIDS Day Detroit. "My goal is to bring groups and individuals together to acknowledge that the AIDS epidemic has been with us for 30 years. Renewed awareness and education is imperative. "AIDS is still with us, but we can 'Get to Zero,' eliminating new HIV infections, AIDS-related deaths and disparity and discrimination." Kucab stated.

Jeanne White-Ginder, Ryan White's mother, agreed to participate at Kucab's invitation and she is prominently featured during WADD's December 1, 2011 events. Her teenage son, Ryan, contracted HIV through tainted blood products used to treat hemophilia. Ostracized by his local community, expelled from school because of AIDS, the media often touted him as an "innocent victim." Ryan soundly rejected that label as he regarded every person with AIDS as innocent. Through his grace and ultimate celebrity, Ryan educated the nation about AIDS. In 1990, four months after his death, Congress passed the Ryan White Care Act to provide access to medicine and treatment for Americans impacted by AIDS.

Many people with HIV are able to live extended lives with current drug therapies. Still, there are more than 50,000 new infections in the United States each year, nearly half of which are people under 25 years of age. While African Americans represent 14% of the United States population, in 2009, they accounted for 44% of new HIV infections. (Source: HIV in the United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, November 2011)

World AIDS Day Detroit invites all who are interested to join us at the Fillmore Theater Detroit on December 1(st) for all or some of the day's events including an open photo shoot with the NOH8 Campaign, Screening of Bad Blood Documentary with Producer/Director and cast member meet and greet, reception with Jeanne White-Ginder and the evening Getting to Zero event.

For more information, please visit our website www.worldaidsdaydetroit.com where you may order tickets and make a donation to this very important cause.

SOURCE Hemophilia Foundation of Michigan