Foundation Leads the Way on 20th Annual World AIDS Day This year's World AIDS Day theme of leadership seemed tailor-made for the Foundation, a leader in the fight against pediatric HIV/AIDS. A broad range of World AIDS Day activities and initiatives underscored our continued drive to create a generation free of HIV. Here are just a few:

• A special World AIDS Day page on Yahoo! spotlighted the Foundation and our work with a video of Foundation Ambassador Florence Ngobeni and the stories of others affected by our programs;


• President and CEO Pam Barnes spoke to Michel Martin about the Foundation's lifesaving work on NPR's Tell Me More;


• News outlets around the world featured the Foundation's expertise in the fight against the AIDS pandemic;


• An audio news release from Barnes and Foundation Celebrity Ambassador Gloria Reuben calling on Congress and President-Elect Obama to fully fund the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was heard by more than 19 million people across the country; and


• Activities in our country offices included ten Foundation Uganda employees running a portion of the MTN Kampala Marathon to raise awareness of pediatric AIDS and Foundation Zambia employees (pictured) marching to commemorate World AIDS Day.

See a complete roundup of Foundation World AIDS Day activities.

President of Tanzania Inaugurates New Foundation-Supported Clinic His Excellency President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete presided over the opening of a new HIV care and treatment facility in the Tabora region of eastern Tanzania in October. The Foundation- and CDC-supported facility will provide vital HIV prevention, care, and treatment services to the Nzega District, an area particularly hard-hit by the HIV epidemic. Read more about our efforts in Tanzania.

Policy Recommendations Given to Obama The Foundation drew on its years of experience in the fight against HIV to outline key domestic and international policy recommendations for President-Elect Barack Obama. The recommendations, sent to Obama's team last week, focus on the need to advance the prevention of pediatric AIDS, expand care and treatment for children and families affected by HIV and AIDS, and continue funding AIDS initiatives. Read our recommendations.

Foundation Speaks Out at International AIDS Conference The 15th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) drew Foundation staff from around the world to Dakar, Senegal, from December 3 to 7. In addition to hosting key satellite sessions and contributing abstracts about our work on the ground and in the laboratory, the Foundation called on policymakers, donors, nongovernmental organizations, and national governments to dramatically increase the availability of PMTCT services and access to early HIV diagnosis and antiretroviral treatment for infants with HIV worldwide. Read our statement.

Foundation Grants $1.25 Million for HIV Research The Foundation awarded a total of $1.25 million in grants to five research studies into the efficiency and effectiveness of PMTCT programs. The studies, which will take place in sites throughout Africa, will help to establish best PMTCT practices and further the Foundation's commitment to advancing HIV research. Read more about these awards.

Côte d'Ivoire Office Donates Supplies, Scooters Displaying its commitment to providing support to its community, Foundation staff in Côte d'Ivoire coordinated two donation events last month. Working with telecommunications leader and partner MTN, the Foundation donated 300 school supply kits (pictured) to 12 Foundation-supported sites. The kits, which included books and writing materials, will be given to children infected and affected by HIV who may not be able to afford their own supplies. The Foundation also donated 12 motorbikes to local healthcare centers. The scooters will be used to transport test results and collect clinic data.