Latino Commission on AIDS Announces 2026 Cielo Gala, Highlighting Persistent HIV Disparities After 40 Years
TL;DR
The Latino Commission on AIDS's 2026 Cielo Gala offers networking with top public health leaders and sponsorships that enhance corporate social responsibility profiles.
The 2026 Cielo Gala on June 5 at Cipriani Wall Street raises funds for HIV testing, prevention programs, and health policy initiatives targeting Latino communities.
This gala advances health equity by honoring leaders who combat HIV disparities and fund programs that build a more compassionate, AIDS-free future for all communities.
The 2026 Cielo Gala honors Dr. Helen Arteaga-Landaverde and other visionaries while celebrating 40 years of progress toward designing a world without AIDS.
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The Latino Commission on AIDS, in partnership with the Hispanic Health Network, announced that the 2026 Cielo Gala will take place on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. The event continues the theme "Designing a World Without AIDS" and underscores the ongoing urgency to confront the persistent and unequal impact of HIV on Latine communities. This comes 40 years after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control first documented the disproportionate toll of HIV on Black and Latino people in the country.
"Forty years after the CDC first reported the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black and Latino communities, we are reminded that our work is far from finished," said Guillermo Chacón, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS. "The Cielo Gala is not only a celebration of progress—it is a call to action. As we honor leaders who are shaping a more just and equitable public health landscape, we reaffirm our commitment to designing a world without AIDS."
The Gala brings together leaders across public health, government, philanthropy, entertainment, and corporate sectors to build a world where HIV is no longer a public health threat and all communities have equitable access to prevention, care, and dignity. The Latino Commission on AIDS announced three award recipients for the 2026 event. Dr. Helen Arteaga-Landaverde, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, will receive the Esperanza (Hope) Award for her leadership in community-centered healthcare. Gregory Millett, MPH, Vice President and Director of Public Policy at amfAR, will be honored with the Dennis deLeon Voz de Compromiso (Voice of Commitment) Award for his work in HIV research and policy. Mario Pérez, Director of the Division of HIV and STD Programs for Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, will receive the Compañero (Partner) Award for his contributions to HIV prevention and community partnerships.
For more than three decades, the Latino Commission on AIDS has worked to address the entrenched inequities that fuel the spread and impact of HIV in Latine communities nationwide. Despite progress, Latino communities continue to experience higher rates of new HIV diagnoses, substantial barriers to care, and persistent stigma. The 2026 Cielo Gala reaffirms the Commission's commitment to advancing culturally responsive programs, building leadership pipelines, strengthening community networks, and ensuring public health systems meet all communities' needs.
Funds raised during the Gala directly support year-round initiatives including HIV testing and prevention, community mobilization, organizational capacity-building, National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), Zero campaigns to address homophobia and transphobia, and national and southern regional health policy efforts. Sponsorships, tables, tickets, journal and silent auction opportunities are available at https://www.cielolatino.org. The organization provides health education, policy efforts, prevention, capacity building, and research through its work, with more information available at https://www.latinoaids.org.
Curated from Noticias Newswire
