World AIDS Day observance to be held at National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park

The 16^th annual World AIDS Day observance will be held on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park. “Renewing Our Commitment” is the theme of this year’s commemoration. The observance will be held, rain or shine, under the tent in The Meadow of the National AIDS Memorial. The Meadow is in the center of the seven-and-one-half-acre Memorial at the intersection of Bowling Green and Middle Drive East in Golden Gate Park.

This year’s annual National AIDS Memorial Grove award winners include: Stephen F. Morin, PhD, the director of the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) and the AIDS Policy Research Center, both UCSF programs, and Bishop Yvette Flunder, the Executive Director of the Ark of Refuge, Inc. They are being honored for their years of tireless effort to help combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Both will be in attendance and will have an opportunity to share their reflections on the state of the epidemic.

The Rev. Douglas Fitch will deliver the opening invocation/spiritual message at the event. The winners of this year’s inaugural Youth College Scholarship Program will be announced during the ceremony. Music will be provided by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and by the Lesbian Choral Ensemble Group, VOICES.