Local Teens Continue Efforts on AIDS Awareness Day

Local teens, including Greenwich students, are continuing the recognition of World AIDS Day this week with a variety of educational and fundraising events, even though the day fell on Sunday, Dec. 1.

The  governments, AIDS programs, faith organizations, community organizations, and individuals can raise awareness and focus attention on the global AIDS epidemic. Though significant advances have been made in HIV treatment and the laws protecting people living with HIV, many people continue to misunderstand basic facts about the disease. Stigma and discrimination also remain a sobering reality, marked by continued stories of HIV positive students denied entry to school, reminiscent of the 1985 Ryan White case.

This year marks 33 years since the epidemic was initially reported. Worldwide, an estimated 33 million people are reportedly living with HIV and 25 million have died. In the US, more than 1 million Americans are estimated to be living with HIV. And in Fairfield County, recent statistics indicate that about 2,700 people in Fairfield County live with HIV/AIDS, with 3,200 in neighboring Westchester County.

On Monday, Dec. 2, the Red Ribbon Foundation’s Youth Council, a group of students interested in the cause of AIDS from local high schools, will host the Interactive Educational Theatre (IET) when they perform a segment on HIV/AIDS at Greenwich High School, from noon to 1 p.m.  IET is nationally recognized for its social issue education on topics ranging from drinking, bullying to safe sex.

Later in the week, on Friday, Dec. 6, radio celebrity and AIDS advocate Gary Dell’Abate of Old Greenwich will speak on Red Ribbon’s behalf at Stamford’s Westhill High School at 9:30 a.m. Dell’Abate, known as “BaBa Booey” for his longtime role as the SIRIUS/XM Howard Stern Show’s executive producer, has spent the last 20 years as a champion of AIDS education through his work with the AIDS awareness organization Lifebeat: Music Fights HIV/AIDS, a Red Ribbon Foundation grantee.

This year’s activities will culminate on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Greenwich's Arch Street Teen Center for the 5th Annual World AIDS Day dance. Last year’s sold-out event raised more than $5,000.

The Red Ribbon Foundation raises money to fight AIDS through several fundraising events held each year which is awarded as grants to organizations that demonstrate results as well as promising ideas for preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. The organization, founded in 1994, has given over $2.5 million to HIV/AIDS organizations worldwide.

For more information about the Red Ribbon Foundation, visit www.redribbonfoundation.org.