Human AIDS Ribbon Greets Dodger and Mets Fans at Strike Out AIDS

Several hundred volunteers marched onto the field at Dodger Stadium this past Friday, carrying banners and red umbrellas that ultimately formed a human AIDS ribbon. The ribbon, part of "Strike Out AIDS," took place before the Dodgers/New York Mets game which attracted approximately 45,000 attendees.

(PRWEB) August 17, 2005 -- With red umbrellas in hand, volunteers marched on to the field and formed an AIDS ribbon prior to the start of the Los Angeles Dodgers-New York Mets game last Friday night. The human AIDS ribbon launched the 5th annual STRIKE OUT AIDS, one of the countrys most unique awareness and fundraising events, hosted by the Dodgers and The Wall-Las Memorias Project.

Among the AIDS ribbon” volunteers were individuals and families who have lost a loved one to AIDS, including lifemates, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, friends and supporters of The Wall Project and its mission.

Joining the volunteers on the field were honorary co-chairs A. Martinez, host of KWFBs Dodger Talk, Apollonia, singer/producer and 1984 Boxing Olympic gold medal winner Paul Gonzales. Also on the field were representatives of corporate sponsors: Ida Tagliente, Regional Manager, Public Relations and Community Affairs for Adelphia, Southern California and Stacy Smithers, Senior Vice President, Wells Fargo Bank. Special guests included State Senator Gil Cedillo, Los Angeles Councilman Ed Reyes, acting director of County AIDS Programs & Policy Mario Lopez, and City of Los Angeles AIDS coordinator Stephen Simon.

Ms. Tagliente, who is also board chair of The Wall-Las Memorias Project, believes the red ribbon sends a message to the more than 45,000 fans attending tonights game.

"This red ribbon allows families and friends to publicly celebrate and honor the lives of those we have lost. The red ribbon also expresses our determination to fight and end AIDS."

Approximately 2,000 supporters of The Wall-Las Memorias Project watched the game from a special section in the top deck of Dodger Stadium. A portion of the ticket sales to these supporters will support the projects innovative AIDS education programs.

Strike Out AIDS is a great way to promote AIDS awareness among Dodger fans and the world of major league baseball,” said A. Martinez. Today we share the message that AIDS affects everyone, and that no one will be forgotten in our fight against AIDS.”

One of the most significant ways we can stop AIDS is to end the silence and the denial that surrounds it,” said Richard Zaldivar, founder and executive director of The Wall-Las Memorias Project. With our teammates, the Los Angeles Dodgers, we are sending a message that we can end this pandemic when we work together.”

Also an honorary chair of STRIKE OUT AIDS but unable to attend was actress Lupe Ontiveros of Desperate Housewives.”

Sponsors of STRIKE OUT AIDS include Adelphia, Wells-Fargo Bank, CBS 2 and KCAL 9, Los Angeles Office of AIDS Programs, City of Los Angeles AIDS Coordinators Office, L.A. Care Health Plan, Hoy, In Magazine, Cable Positive, SBC, Time Warner Cable and Charter.

The Wall-Las Memorias Project (www.thewalllasmemorias.org), creator of the AIDS monument in Lincoln Park, is noted for its innovative AIDS education programs that reach out to Latino communities of faith (Project Faith) and men at high risk (Latino Mens Group). Complementing these programs is the AIDS monument, which serves as tool to educate the public and support families and individuals who have lost a loved one to AIDS.

The mission of the project is to educate the Latino community about HIV/AIDS, and the ways that shame, denial and fear contribute to the spread of HIV.

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