On Tuesday, September 20, 2005, White House and congressional staff, HIV service providers and advocates, and people living with and affected by HIV gathered at B. Smith Restaurant in Washington, D.C. for AIDS Action Foundation’s second annual A Breakfast of Champions. The event, whose proceeds will support the work of AIDS Action, honored six national leaders who have made a significant difference in the lives of people living with and affected by HIV.

The Breakfast’s honorees included the following individuals:

Delegate Donna Christensen (D-VI), who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1996. As the first female physician elected to Congress, Delegate Christensen began her career as an emergency-room physician after graduating from George Washington University Medical School. In her current position as the Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus’ Health Braintrust, where she focuses on minority health issues both domestically and internationally.

William Schuyler, who is the vice president of Federal Government Relations, Trade for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Mr. Schuyler’s responsibilities include advocating Congress and the Administration on issues related to the Ryan White CARE Act, the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. As a longtime health-care advocate, he has been instrumental in ensuring prescription drug access for thousands of Americans living with HIV.

Ken Malone, executive director of the Assistance Fund and treasurer of the AIDS Action Foundation Board with Brian Ott, jr. high school student and Breakfast of Champions honoree

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, who has led the Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health since 1984. Dr. Fauci has contributed to the understanding of how HIV destroys the body's defenses, increasing its susceptibility to life-threatening infections. In addition, Dr. Fauci has applied his expertise to research for a vaccine and to the development of therapy and immune-reconstitution strategies, which have improved health outcomes for people living with HIV disease.

Steve Sternberg, who is the health reporter for USA Today. Mr. Sternberg focuses his reporting on health-care access and related issues. Known as one of the foremost journalists covering HIV prevention, care, and treatment, Mr. Sternberg has written articles about the severity of the HIV epidemic in the U.S., HIV treatment for substance users, and vaccine development, among other subjects. Always providing elements of human interest in his stories, Mr. Sternberg’s education of the general public on HIV related topics has raised awareness of the virus’ impact both here and abroad.

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who has served in the United States Senate since 1976. He was an early champion and co-sponsor of the original Ryan White CARE Act, passed in 1990. He was also instrumental in naming the legislation after Ryan White, one of the earliest and youngest HIV advocates who, in 1989 at the age of 19, died of an AIDS defining illness. As a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Hatch plays a pivotal role in the reauthorization of the CARE Act.

Hydeia Broadbent, who is now 21, contracted HIV as an infant from her biological mother. Diagnosed with AIDS just prior to her fourth birthday, Hydeia was not expected to live beyond a year. Yet she survived to initiate a public speaking career at the age of eight. Since then, Ms. Broadbent has talked about HIV at countless seminars and events, notably at the 1996 Republican National Convention. Further, she co-wrote a book with her adoptive mother in 2002: You Get Past the Tears is an affecting story about growing up with HIV.

Prior to the award presentation, Reverend Edwin Sanders of Nashville, TN’s Metropolitan Interdenominational Church, who also serves on PACHA and on the board of AIDS Action Council, delivered an invocation, asking for continued strength and endurance for the hard work that everyone faces in efforts to diminish the impact of HIV. Reverend Sanders then welcomed AIDS Action Executive Director Marsha Martin, DSW, to the stage for opening remarks.

Hydeia Broadbent, a Breakfast of Champions honoree with Kianga Palacio

Craig Thompson, executive director of AIDS Project Los Angeles and AIDS Action Council Board chair presents flowers to Marsha Martin, head of Washington, DC’s HIV/AIDS Administration and former executive director of AIDS Action

Opening the Ceremony
George Wilson, host of the hour-long radio broadcast program GW on the Hill, served as the Breakfast’s master of ceremonies, providing biographical information on the honorees. However, it was AIDS Action’s Deputy Director John Hilton who opened the ceremony. First, he welcomed attendees and thanked them as well as the Breakfast’s hosts and sponsors for their support. Then, he invited Craig Thompson, executive director of AIDS Project Los Angeles and Board chair for AIDS Action Council, to the podium.

Mr. Thompson informed the audience that AIDS Action had recently faced the departure of Marsha Martin, DSW, who had accepted a position a the head of Washington, D.C.’s HIV/AIDS Administration after having served as AIDS Action’s executive director for three and a half years. When characterizing her approach to HIV advocacy, Mr. Thompson observed, “She was willing to engage anyone who was willing to listen to her story—our story. She was also willing to engage people who weren’t willing to listen—and we’re grateful to her for that.” Then, picking up a vase of flowers, he asked Marsha to accept it as modest token of thanks.

As Dr. Martin approached the podium, the audience rose to their feet and applauded. Visibly touched, Dr. Martin stated, “I don’t think I’ll be able to speak for a while.” However, after a brief pause, the words began to flow: “It’s been a wild and crazy time,” she revealed with a smile. Then, assuming a more thoughtful tone, she added: “Looking out, I see many friends and partners. We’ve been able to do some spectacular work and spectacular thinking. With you, I’ve learned a lot that I will be taking with me to D.C., and I really appreciate that you’ve been part of my teachers and you’ve been with me along the way. Continuing, she indicated that all the collective work, thinking, and consideration would influence her future work for the capital city. In closing she forewarned, “I’ll be calling on all of you to make D.C. a model for the nation.”

Donna Crews, AIDS Action director of Government Affairs; Patricia Hawkins, associate executive director of Whitman-Walker Clinic and an AIDS Action Public Policy Committee member; Britt Weinstock, senior legislative assistant for the Congressional Black Caucus Braintrust; and Natasha Williams, a Geiger fellow in the office of Donna Christensen

Honoring Delegate Donna Christensen
Once Dr. Martin had returned to her seat, Patricia Hawkins, associate executive director of Whitman-Walker Clinic and a member of AIDS Action Council’s Public Policy Committee (PPC), rose to say a few words about Delegate Donna Christenson. “It is nearly impossible to think about the federal response to HIV without Donna Christensen coming immediately to mind,” she began. Ms. Hawkins described Delegate Christensen as “a truly gifted leader whose great wisdom is only matched by an all-embracing empathy for all those who struggle among us.”

Though Delegate Christensen was not present at the Breakfast; however, she did send two of her staff members as emissaries: Britt Weinstock, senior legislative assistant for the Congressional Black Caucus Braintrust and Natasha Williams, a Geiger fellow in the office of Donna Christensen. They explained that Delegate Christiansen was in the Virgin Islands. She had planned to attend the ceremony to receive her award, but her flight from the Virgin Islands had been delayed because of bad weather. “She asked that we give her appreciation and say thank you for this honor,” Ms. Williams explained.

Honoring William Schuyler
Craig Thompson returned to the podium to provide an introduction, in the form of an anecdote, for William Schuyler. Prefacing his story, Mr. Thompson remarked, “It’s nice to have a maturity level in the movement where we are able to see and work responsibly with PhRMA as a partner in the work that we do—because they do a wonderful job.” He then recounted a time in the late 1980s when his organization, AIDS Project Los Angeles, received an unsolicited check from Mr. Schuyler’s company GlaxoSmithKline. “We sent it back with an indignant letter saying we wouldn’t accept drug money,” Mr. Thompson quipped before adding a quick rejoinder: “So if you’re cleaning out drawers in the lab and happen to find it, I’d be happy to accept it now.” With that, Mr. Thompson introduced Mr. Schuyler as “a champion of example and leadership.”

In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Schuyler stressed the importance of the partnership that existed between HIV advocates and the pharmaceutical industry for which eh has been working for ten years. Mr. Schuyler reminded the audience of the joint efforts these partners had engaged in to persuade the U.S. government to implement policies that help people living with HIV to remain healthy. “What I have done over these past years has only been possible because of all the rest of you in this room,” he acknowledged. “It is because we all were willing to say, look, what we agree on; how do we come together; and how do we make the best possible use of that.”