Philadelphia FIGHT kicks off the 20th Anniversary of AIDS Education Month with an opening reception and awards ceremony, on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at Independence Visitor's Center (6th and Market). The reception is the first in a series of free events to increase awareness of AIDS and to bring people together to find strategies to combat the virus.

AIDS Education Month, opening reception, Philadelphia FIGHT

Enjoy a special night of great conversation, hors d’oeuvres, music and the presentation of the annual Kiyoshi Kuromiya award for Prevention, Treatment and Justice to individuals or organizations that have stood out as exemplars in the community of those fighting for the rights of people with HIV.

Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, AIDS Education Month, 20th Anniversary, Philadelphia Fight

The 2014 Kiyoshi Kuromiya award will be presented to Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, PhD, Nobel Prize in Medicine recipient, director of the Regulation of Retroviral Infections and professor at the Institut Pasteur, and research director at the French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM).

Since the early 1970′s she has been involved in retrovirology research and recognized for her contributions to HIV/AIDS research, particularly in the discovery of HIV. The research programs of her team are focused on mechanisms required to protect against HIV/SIV (Simian immunodeficiency virus) infections and/or against early pathogenic signals induced by HIV/SIV. A member of the French Academy of Science, Dr. Barré-Sinoussi is president of the International AIDS Society.

This event is free and open to the public. Register by visiting www.aidseducationmonth.org, or calling (215) 985-4448, ext. 200.

Join FIGHT for the 20th Annual AIDS Education Month (AEM), June 2014. AEM is a series of Over 10,000 individuals are directly reached by AEM every June.