For immediate release
May 7, 2002

ODH Announces HIV/AIDS Service Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 7, 2002

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) will recognize four Ohioans for outstanding service in battling HIV/AIDS during its annual Leadership 2002 Conference on May 13.

ODH's AIDS Client Resources Section and the AIDS Awareness Week Committee will present Ohio HIV/AIDS Service awards to two volunteers and two professionals during the May 13 banquet. The event was designed to spotlight those who have made significant contributions to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in Ohio. Members of their respective communities nominated the winners.

In the volunteer category, Steve Townley of Cincinnati will be honored for more than 10 years of service in the HIV/AIDS field. His work includes serving as president of the Ohio AIDS Coalition and fund-raising on behalf of those with HIV/AIDS. Speedy Gonzales of Toledo will also be recognized for his work at David's House, where he has volunteered for eight years. In addition to volunteering at David's House, which provides services to some 450 HIV-positive clients in an eight-county region, Gonzales hosts awareness programs at area high schools, treatment centers, jails and churches.

In the professional category, Patti Milford, a case aide for the HIV case manager at Family Services in Canton, will be recognized for four years of service. Milford provides HIV-prevention education and testing to high-risk populations in a five-county area. ODH will also honor Dr. Howard Wunderlich of Dayton for his efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in the Miami Valley region.

The Leadership 2002 Conference award ceremony will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 13 at the Sharonville Radisson, 11320 Chester Road. Please RSVP Kevin Sullivan of the Ohio AIDS Coalition (1-800-226-5554) by May 8 if you plan to attend.

The conference comes on the heels of the 16th annual Ohio AIDS Awareness Week, May 5-11, a time for people and institutions to increase public awareness of HIV/AIDS through fund-raisers, distribution of informational materials, public service announcements and other outreach activities. This year's theme was "HIV/AIDS: We can Live without It."

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Media contact: Ohio Department of Health, Office of Public Affairs: 614-644-8562.