Miss America to Turn Heads at Local Gala for International Alliance for the Prevention oF AIDS

PHOENIX - March 18, 2014 - PRLog -- PHOENIX, ARIZ. [March 17, 2014] – 2014 Miss America and Miss New York Nina Davuluri will turn heads towards a global pandemic at the Hope in the Face of AIDS dinner and gala at 5:30 p.m. on April 19 the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel. The International Alliance for the Prevention of AIDS will host the 8^th annual event to help stop the spread of HIV and AIDS in India. Davuluri is the first Miss America of Indian decent.

“Despite the medical advances in the western world, HIV and AIDS continues to be a global pandemic with an estimated 2.4 million individuals in India alone living with the disease,” said R. Scott Harnisch, co-chair of Hope In The Face of AIDS. “It’s an honor to have Miss America bring focus to the problem facing the country where her family originated, and have someone so beautiful shed light on dreadful pandemic.”

As Miss America, Davuluri has logged 20,000 miles per month as she travels around the country to address an array of audiences on her platform, Celebrating Diversity through Cultural Competency. The University of Michigan graduate has a passion for medicine, helping educate the community on diversity and those in need. She also serves as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

Arizona community leaders will be honored for their significant contributions in the fight against HIV/AIDS at the gala.  Recipients are:-

- Brian Helander for the Hope in the Face of AIDS Award, which is presented to an individual who has provided years of dedicated service to help those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS

- Russ Haan for the Global Alliance Award, givento an individual who has assisted in serving the Indian Community and provided their time, talent and passion toward the elimination of HIV/AIDS

- Barb Brados for the International Child’s Life Award, presented to an individual, company or organization that has demonstrated a commitment and taken specific measures to eliminate the impact of HIV/AIDS on children throughout the world

- Megan Allen for the Hope Hero Award, bestowed to an outstanding Student Volunteer Program participant who demonstrated passion and a commitment to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS

The Hope in the Face of AIDS Gala features dinner, a silent auction and an Indian Bazaar with all proceeds going to IAPA’s educational initiatives in Indian schools and communities. With the U.S. dollar going six times further in India, the money raised will significantly impact IAPA’s efforts in testing and counseling services; public-private partnerships between Indian and U.S. universities; and the creation of a sustainable, multinational and multicultural effort to fight the pandemic.

Tickets and sponsorships are available online at www.hopeinthefaceofaids.org or by calling 480-274-3561. Tickets are $150 each, and tables of 10 range from $1,500 to $50,000. Tickets are tax deductible.

About International Alliance for the Prevention of AIDS

The International Alliance for the Prevention of AIDS (IAPA) was founded in 2004 by Arizona college students inspired by community focused health initiatives to combat the spread of HIV in India, basing the organization in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The IAPA provides community based HIV education services, support to individuals who are HIV positive, advocacy services and health development programs. For more information on IAPA, please visit www.iapaindia.org.

About HIV/AIDS

The global HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of catastrophic proportions – 25 million deaths around the world, 33.2 million people currently infected with the virus, and 15 million children orphaned. Every day, there are 14,000 new infections worldwide.