About 325 supporters of AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) gathered May 16 at Ignite Studios for the organization's "Ignite" party, intended to launch the yearlong celebration of the organization's 30th anniversary.
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"Nearly 30 years ago, when AIDS Foundation of Chicago was founded, we were facing a very different age in this epidemic," AFC Executive Director John Peller said. "We've made a tremendous amount of progress in the fight against HIV."
Peller then cited many new developments that illustrate that progress, among them: new HIV cases are going down among some populations, going down 90 percent among injection drug users, for example; more people with HIV are learning when they are HIV-positive; and evidence that HIV-positive partners on treatment are unlikely to transmit the infection to partners who are HIV-negative.
Peller added that, "AFC recognized that helping people with HIV is about helping them with their daily struggles, from substance abuse to unstable housing, from homelessness to domestic violence and other challenges that they face in their lives."
Attorney Robert Mink was presented with the Lori Kaufman Volunteer Award by Kaufman herself. She thanked Mink for "hundreds of hours of free legal assistance" to AFC and other organizations.
Accepting the award, Mink said, "The leaders and staff of AFC have just got it right with me. They have embraced me as a non-traditional volunteerthey weren't afraid to find a role for me where I could help foster AFC's missions and goals. They connected me through the organization in so many ways."
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin then presented attorney Michael Bauer with AFC's Civic Leadership Award. Durbin said that Bauer educated him on many aspects relating to HIV/AIDS over the course of their friendship.
"It's a friendship that goes beyond politics, and it's a friendship that lasts to this day," Durbin said. "Michael had the heart and patience to take the time to educate this senate candidate and United States senator."
Bauer paid tribute to Dr. Ron Sable, who opened the first medical clinic in Chicago that provided services to people with HIV/AIDS, and realized that government assistance was needed to for services and research that had the diseasehe was the first openly gay candidate to run for Chicago City Council.
"Many of us, myself included, learned the importance of politics, the importance of getting people elected to office who were sensitive to our needs and would help us legally and financially through their work and help in office" from Sable, Bauer said. "Every openly gay or lesbian person elected to office walks in his footsteps."
Peller said that, exactly one year lateron May 15, 2015AFC would host a gala commemorating the anniversary.
Ignite Studios presented glass-blowing demonstrations over the course of the party.