July 7, 2008

AIDS Alliance Names Licy Do Canto
Chief Executive Officer

For Immediate Release

Contact: Diana Bruce

(202) 785-3564 x 25

(202) 492-7804 mobile

dbruce@aids-alliance.org

July 7, 2008, Washington, D.C. -- The Board of Directors of AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families today announced the appointment of Mr. Licy Do Canto as Chief Executive Officer.

"Licy Do Canto brings to AIDS Alliance an extensive history of leadership in national membership organizations that actively engage health care consumers," remarked Alelia Munroe, AIDS Alliance President. Do Canto has served as the Director of Federal Affairs for the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) for the past five years where, among other achievements, he championed the call for new legislation designed to assist individuals living with chronic illnesses in overcoming barriers to care through the Patient Navigator Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2005. Prior to NACHC, Do Canto led federal advocacy efforts at the American Cancer Society. Born in Massachusetts to Cape Verdean immigrants, Do Canto's personal experience has informed his admirable career. "Mr. Do Canto's proven commitment to addressing the complex health care needs of vulnerable communities complements AIDS Alliance's long legacy of empowering consumers of HIV services to partner with their providers and improve the lives of those heavily impacted by health care disparities," continued Munroe.

"Furthering the needs of consumers, there is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Do Canto will put his deep understanding of federal health care programs and strong relationships with federal agencies and Capitol Hill to work in support of our provider membership across the country," added Dorothy Mann, Vice President and Chair of the Government Affairs Committee. "They are the ones responsible for delivering the day-to-day care for women, children, youth and families living with HIV/AIDS on shoe-string budgets," continued Mann. The vast majority of AIDS Alliance's provider members are grantees of federal funding through Part D of the Ryan White CARE Act, which provides coordinated, family centered care and services for women, children, youth and families living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

"Mr. Do Canto embodies AIDS Alliance's mission to advance the partnership between consumers and providers, and he will effectively broadcast the voice of women, children, youth and families living with and affected by HIV/AIDS on the national stage," said Gina Brown, Board Member and Chair of AIDS Alliance's Consumer Committee. Do Canto offered, "My professional life has been dedicated to promoting the needs of health care consumers, and I am eager to meet the board's charge of ensuring effective consumer participation at all levels of the organization."

Through the appointment of Mr. Do Canto, AIDS Alliance renews its commitment to the principles of family centered care -- an approach to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of care that reflects a strong partnership between providers and consumers of health care. "As a father and husband," said Mr. Do Canto, "I know how meeting the needs of one person can shape an entire families' well being." Munroe added, "Mr. Do Canto was selected from a host of impressive applicants because of his unique capacity to promote both family and health care through his transformative leadership and vision."

This appointment follows the departure of founding executive director David C. Harvey. Since February 2008, Deputy Director of Programs Linda H. Scruggs and Director of Policy and Government Affairs Diana Bruce have served as co-interim executive directors. Both will resume their senior staff positions when Mr. Do Canto joins AIDS Alliance on July 21.

###

AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families is a national training, education, and advocacy organization. Our provider members include over 650 community-based organizations that serve over 53,000 women, children, youth and families affected by HIV/AIDS. Many of our programs are funded under Part D (Title IV) of the Ryan White CARE Act, a program that reaches the vast majority of pregnant women and newborns affected by HIV/AIDS in the United States. Part D (Title IV) provides comprehensive, family-centered care to women, children, youth and male caregivers affected by HIV/AIDS through 91 grants in 35 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. For more information, contact Diana Bruce, director of policy and government affairs, 202-785-3564, x 25.