Update from the Global AIDS Alliance Fund

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend:

I wanted to take this opportunity to let

you know about the highly successful event that the Global AIDS Alliance Fund

sponsored at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. We hosted a luncheon on Monday,

August 26, to honor those Members of Congress who have shown great leadership

in the fight against global and domestic AIDS. Headlined by prominent

activist and actor Danny Glover, the event speakers included Representative

Barbara Lee (D-CA); Marjorie J. Hill (CEO of Gay Men’s Health Crisis);

Dr. Karambu Ringera (founder and President of International

Peace Initiatives in Kenya); and Thurman (former Director of the White

House Office of National AIDS Policy).

We were delighted that so many of the

Members of Congress we honored were able to join us and say a few words,

including Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep.

Payne (D-NJ), Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI), Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN),

and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA).

Note the Roll Call article here: http://www.rollcall.com/issues/54_21/kfiles/27560-1.html

The GAA Fund also launched our

Congressional Pledge at the luncheon, giving all candidates running for

Congress in November the chance to sign on to a pledge to fight for the full

appropriations needed to fund the $48 billion reauthorization of PEPFAR that

became law in July; to support a much-needed domestic National AIDS Strategy;

and to endorse the call to reform foreign assistance by establishing a

Cabinet-level Department of Global Development. Rep. Lee signed the

Congressional Pledge at the event, and seven additional Members of Congress and

candidates have already signed since then. As the election nears, our

efforts to focus attention on the Congressional Pledge will intensify,

especially in the key battleground states of North Carolina, Virginia, Minnesota, and Colorado. We hope you will take the

opportunity to call this pledge to the attention of the candidates running for

Congress in your state.

Check out the Congressional Pledge here:

http://www.globalaidsalliance.org/index.php/c4_site/interior/congressional_pledge/

You will find brief and inspiring online

videos of the event here, including interviews with several Members of

Congress, Dr. Zeitz, and Danny

Glover: http://blog.propeller.com/2008/08/28/

-fund

Selected photos are available here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gaaf/sets/72157607220550563/

And the full event can be viewed here: http://www.kaisernetwork.org/

health_cast/health2008hc.cfm?hc=2964

The Global AIDS Alliance Fund relies on the support of

individuals and organizations who share our commitment to strengthening U.S. leadership

on global AIDS and poverty. To make a secure online donation, please

click here: https://secure.globalaidsalliance.org/page/contribute/gaa_fund

We look forward to a continued and

fruitful partnership with you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Zeitz

Executive Director