With our shared commitment to ending the HIV and AIDS epidemic, we’re delighted that ViiV Healthcare is returning as the Presenting Sponsor for AIDS Walk New York on Sunday, May 18 – for the sixth consecutive year!
“AIDS Walk New York and GMHC are vital to this city, and ViiV Healthcare’s continued support is rooted in our shared goal of making a difference in the lives of people impacted by HIV,” said Pearl Pugh, ViiV’s Head of North America. “And that’s exactly what AIDS Walk is all about – people coming together to celebrate our community, while raising awareness and support to end the HIV epidemic.”
“This year will be my first AIDS Walk New York, and I was so pleased to learn that the theme for the 40th Walk is ‘We Won’t Stop,’” Pugh added. “That phrase strikes a powerful chord at this moment in time.”
“It is particularly meaningful to ViiV because it is our rallying cry. Perseverance is deeply rooted in our DNA,” she said. For the past four decades, ViiV has been the only pharmaceutical company solely dedicated to pioneering HIV treatment and prevention medications, including launching the first long-acting medicines.
“Our ambition is to achieve an HIV-free generation, so our dedication to supporting young people is unwavering – we are investing in their future, as we know they are the key to ending the HIV epidemic,” Pugh emphasized.
“Developing youth leaders and mentors in the fight to end HIV is critical, Pugh said, because young people account for about 20% of all new HIV diagnoses in the United States – and there is a disproportionate impact on Black and Latinx youth, who experience the greatest number of new diagnoses.” What’s more, she added, “young people are the least likely of all age groups to know their HIV status, which is the entry point to HIV care.”
In response, ViiV piloted its first youth-focused grant initiative, Positive Action for Youth, in 2017 to empower young people living with or affected by HIV. Since then, ViiV has expanded its commitment almost tenfold – from initially funding $1 million in grants to five community-based organizations to, currently, $9.8 million in grant funding to 30 grantees over the next three years. Positive Action for Youth is part of ViiV’s extensive Positive Action Community Grants program, which supports communities most affected by HIV and AIDS.
The Positive Action for Youth grants foster grassroots leadership development and innovative peer-support models, such as youth mentoring youth to reduce HIV-related stigma and increase linkage to HIV care and support services. “We are eager for the initiative’s continued growth,” Pugh said.
“As the mother of a teenager and young adult, I truly believe that our children are the future,” she added. “The youth of today are tomorrow’s next generation of leaders in society, as well as the HIV community, and we need to equip them with the tools and knowledge to drive change.”
“AIDS Walk New York’s theme of ‘We Won’t Stop’ connects to that perfectly,” Pugh said. “The HIV epidemic is not going to be ended by one individual or one company. It will take all of us, and, very importantly, the next generation of leaders in this space – the youth of our country – working together to succeed.”
“Through our partnerships in local communities across the country, we’re determined to see the end of the HIV epidemic in our lifetime, and we won’t stop until that goal is achieved,” she said.
Positive Action for Youth in NYC
In New York City, two notable grantees from ViiV’s Positive Action for Youth are Point Source Youth and Diaspora Community Services. “We prioritize the youth communities most impacted by HIV, with a focus on funding those who are making a real difference at the grassroots level,” Pugh explained.
ViiV is helping Point Source Youth, which focuses on ending youth homelessness, to fund a nationwide network of youth advocates who’ve created essential resources, such as the National Youth Mentorship and Empowerment Initiative. This is a comprehensive handbook for hiring and training youth mentors to provide peer navigation to LGBTGNC youth of color around HIV prevention, treatment, care, and housing. A related tool, Hire Youth! Best Practices for Peer Navigators, offers guidance on how to set up and sustain a peer navigation program in the community.
In Brooklyn, ViiV is working with Diaspora Community Services to promote HIV awareness and reduce stigma through its Artvocacy program, which combines art and advocacy in youth-led workshops, events, and cultural activities, along with engaging social media campaigns.
These initiatives sync with GMHC’s own commitment to serving youth and young adults ages 18 or older through The Clubhouse, a youth drop-in space for LGBTGNC youth of color, and the House of Latex Project, which serves NYC’s House and Ball community.
ViiV’s Positive Action for Youth grantmaking is “grounded in our community-centered framework,” Pugh said. “We’ve seen firsthand that mentorship resources, peer-support models, and leadership development work to keep young people engaged in care and are crucial for reducing stigma in order to achieve whole-person health.”
“We’re constantly inspired by young leaders looking for ways to advocate for their communities, and we’re proud to stand by them and support their efforts,” she said.
Join GMHC and ViiV on Sunday, May 18 in Central Park! Register to walk for AIDS Walk New York or donate to support your favorite team.
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