Festus G. Mogae was president of Botswana from April 1, 1998 to April 1, 2008. He was born on August 21, 1939 at Serowe in the Central District of Botswana. He studied economics at the universities of Oxford and Sussex in the United Kingdom. He started his career as a public officer in 1968 as planning officer. He was Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning from 1975 to 1976.
President Mogae’s outstanding leadership has ensured Botswana’s continued stability and prosperity in the face of an HIV/AIDS pandemic which threatened the future of his country and people. Botswana is also considered a leader in Southern African politics, and earns praise for the stable example its sets for its neighbors.
The National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA), founded in November 1987, is the oldest and largest not-for-profit organization of its kind in the United States.
Their mission is to educate, organize, and empower Black leaders, including clergy, elected officials, medical practitioners, business professionals, social policy experts, and the media, to meet the challenge of fighting HIV/AIDS and other health disparities in their local communities.
The NBLCA conducts policy, research and advocacy on HIV/AIDS and other health disparities to ensure effective participation of our leadership in all policy and resource allocation decisions impacting communities of African descent nationwide.
Calvin O. Butts III (born 1949), is the Pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in the City of New York, President of the State University of New York College at Old Westbury, and Chairman and founder of the Abyssinian Development Corporation – an engine for $500 million in housing and commercial development in Harlem.
He is also Chairman of the Board for the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. They hosted their 25th Annual “Choose Life Awards Hall of Hope and Remembrance” benefit reception on June 7th, 2012. World Liberty TV interviewed Calvin Butts about the causes and ethics of his great organization, and what he believes will help the world better tackle the issues of HIV/AIDS.
Also shown is footage from stage where the awards were given. Wendy Williams was the emcee, presenting honors for Dionne Warwick, Jonathan Larson, Duane Cramer, and Carla A. Harris.
DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS is one of the country’s largest supporters of direct care for people living with HIV/AIDS and preventive education for those at risk. Merging care and commerce, supporters of DIFFA come from all fields of fine design and the visual arts, including: architecture, fashion design, interior design, photography and consumer product design.
With fundraising efforts bolstered by strategic partnerships and unique events showcasing innovation and creativity, DIFFA has mobilized the immense resources of the design communities and granted over $41 million to hundreds of AIDS service organizations nationwide.
Since being founded in 1984 by Patricia Green and Larry Pond, DIFFA has granted funds to organizations which fight AIDS by providing:
preventive education programs targeted to populations at risk of infection
treatment and direct-care services for people living with HIV/AIDS
public policy initiatives which add resources to private sector efforts
Patricia Green has long since retired from DIFFA’s Board of Trustees and Larry Pond died of AIDS in October 1992.
The Pride Agenda’s annual Fall Dinner brings together hundreds of supporters to celebrate the LGBT community and demonstrate our strength and commitment to achieving equality and justice for all LGBT New Yorkers. We will be joined by LGBT leaders, straight allies, politicians and decision makers who are all proud to stand up for the rights of LGBT New Yorkers.
The Fall Dinner benefits the Empire State Pride Agenda, whose work focuses on advancing equality for all LGBT New Yorkers and our families, including the passage of a statewide transgender non-discrimination law, family protections, securing resources for those most vulnerable, and helping to elect pro-LGBT representatives to office.
Empire State Pride Agenda with:
Host TV Comedy’s Billy Eichner
Honorees Christine Quinn and Louis A. Bradbury
New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverit
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer
New York political power players and hundreds of the city’s LGBT supporters
