Ashley Judd Hosts 2005 YouthAIDS Benefit Gala to Raise HIV/AIDS Awareness, Honor Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sens. Landrieu and Lugar

News Advisory:

-- Ashley Judd Hosts 2005 YouthAIDS Benefit Gala To Raise HIV/AIDS Awareness And To Honor Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sen. Mary Landrieu, Sen. Richard Lugar

-- Musical Performances by Wynonna Judd, Tracy Chapman, Kimberley Locke, Minnie Driver and Dave Matthews

Leading celebrities, corporate leaders, public officials, musicians, and health professionals will come together tonight for the 2005 YouthAIDS Benefit Gala to raise funding and awareness to fight HIV/AIDS. YouthAIDS, an action-based initiative implemented by Population Services International (PSI), works on a global level to educate and protect youth from HIV/AIDS. The event, presented by America Online, Inc. and The Leonsis Foundation, will take place at Washington D.C.’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

YouthAIDS will honor three individuals that have made significant strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Senators Mary Landrieu and Richard Lugar will be recognized for their powerful commitment in the ongoing public policy efforts to support AIDS prevention and education. Archbishop Desmond Tutu will also receive the 2005 YouthAIDS award for his tireless efforts speaking out on behalf of those who suffer from HIV/AIDS. Additional highlights of the Gala include performances by five- time Grammy Award-winner and YouthAIDS Ambassador Wynonna Judd, Grammy Award winners Dave Matthews and Tracy Chapman, Kimberley Locke of American Idol fame, and actress Minnie Driver.

“It is our honor to recognize the dedication of Archbishop Tutu, Senator Landrieu, and Senator Lugar in making HIV/AIDS relief a priority in both the domestic and international debate,” said Ashley Judd, YouthAIDS Global Ambassador and Host of the YouthAIDS Gala. “Every 15 seconds a young person becomes infected with HIV. The work these honorees are doing is desperately needed and they are setting important examples of innovative political and social response to saving our future generations from the HIV/AIDS emergency.”

The YouthAIDS’ gala theme, “Faces of Africa”, will highlight the recent visit that Ashley Judd and Kate Roberts, YouthAIDS Founder, made to Africa, a region where HIV/AIDS is widely threatening young populations. “The 2005 YouthAIDS Gala will be a special evening where we gather individuals from all industries who share the YouthAIDS commitment of protecting young people from HIV/AIDS,” said Kate Roberts, director of YouthAIDS. “We are especially pleased to have the opportunity to share the experiences of our recent journey through Africa to help raise further awareness for a region that is severely affected by HIV/AIDS.”

YouthAIDS will also make a number of special announcements to include revealing a new celebrity YouthAIDS ambassador. The gala will conclude with a live auction featuring donated items including a diamond necklace designed by Roberto Coin, a trip to Hong Kong, and an exclusive VIP Super Bowl package, with all proceeds going to support YouthAIDS/PSI’s life-saving programs of more than 60 countries around the world.

ABOUT YOUTHAIDS

YouthAIDS, implemented by Population Services International, is an upbeat global initiative that uses theater, media, music, fashion and sports, to spread messages of HIV/AIDS prevention and protection to the world’s youth. For more information, please visit: http://www.youthaids.org.

Contact Information

Marshall Stowell

Media Contact

YouthAIDS

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