Thursday, December 6, 2007

Miss Universe makes dual New York appearances on World AIDS Day

Miss Universe Riyo Mori made two important community appearances in New York on World AIDS Day on December 1, 2007. First, Miss Universe visited the offices of the Latino Commission on AIDS, then she attended a gala event in connection with the Fifth Annual New York AIDS Film Festival. Miss Universe, whose platform is HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, is using her celebrity to focus public attention on World AIDS Day.


In a press release issued by the New York agency Latino Commission on AIDS, Miss Universe Riyo Mori stated, "It is important to me and the Miss Universe Organization to show our commitment and solidarity with those impacted by HIV/AIDS, especially on World AIDS Day, today I took the HIV test to encourage all communities that it is better to know your status."


Also in its statement, the Commissions leader had this to say: "The fight against HIV and AIDS and the health care needs facing our community get more challenging every year," said Dennis deLeon, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS. "I applaud Miss Universe Riyo Mori for taking this action to join our cause and promote the HIV test as an important step in the area of prevention and education. She joins a group of vital supporters, all of whom are beacons of hope for a future without AIDS."


Miss Universe Riyo Mori holding up a copy of the DVD for the 'How Do I Look' documentary, pictured with the filmmaker and activist Wolfgang Busch on World AIDS Day 2007.


Also on World AIDS Day, Miss Universe also attended the Red Ball gala event of the Fifth Annual New York AIDS Film Festival. Pictured above, Miss Universe posed with Wolfgang Busch, director of the independent documentary, How Do I Look.


The Latino Commission on AIDS is a nonprofit agency dedicated to fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Latino/Hispanic communities. The Commission coordinates National Latino AIDS Awareness Day and other prevention and advocacy programs in more than 40 States and Puerto Rico. For more information visit www.latinoaids.org or www.nlaad.org.


The MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® Pageants are a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal partnership. Utilizing its nationwide grass roots infrastructure, the Miss Universe Organization is committed to increasing HIV/AIDS awareness by focusing on women's health and reproductive issues. By forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education such as the Latino Commission on AIDS, God’s Love We Deliver, APICHA and Gay Men’s Health Crisis, Miss Universe is improving the lives of women today. For more information visit: www.missuniverse.com.

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