Miss Universe Named Madrina of Latino Commission on AIDS

During a special ceremony at Macy's Herald Square on April 16, Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler was named the new Madrina of the Latino Commission on AIDS, to welcome her as an international spokesperson to help deliver their message of HIV prevention.

"We are very privileged to have Miss Universe's commitment to the Latino Commission on AIDS," said Guillermo Chac�n, president of the organization.

Chac�n said that every year, Miss Universe helps the Commission deliver its prevention message. Chac�n described Madrinas of the organization as individuals who commit themselves to promote prevention and education related to HIV/AIDS.

The Latino Commission on AIDS is a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 dedicated to addressing the health challenges and responding to the impact of HIV/AIDS in our communities. The Commission is the leading organization coordinating National Hispanic Hepatitis Awareness Day (May 15), National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (October 15) and other prevention, research, capacity building and advocacy programs across the United States and its territories.

The Commission uses this media reception as the traditional yearly kick-off event for Cielo Latino, the largest annual national fundraiser for the Latino community in its fight against AIDS, to be held this year on Wednesday, May 14.

Each year, Cielo Latino mobilizes a leadership network of concerned members of the health, business, government, entertainment, fashion and philanthropic sectors, including individual donors, to support the Commission's vision: to create a world without HIV/AIDS.

Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler's participation in Cielo Latino will be her first activity in her official role as Madrina. Macy's is supporting Cielo Latino by hosting this event for the media, and is this year's Presenting Sponsor for the Cielo Latino Silent Auction.

Although Latinos constitute 16 percent of the U.S. population, they account for more than 20 percent of the new HIV/AIDS cases nationally. After 30 years of facing HIV/AIDS, medical advances have succeeded in preventing the physical devastation that people and communities witnessed in the early days of the epidemic, yet the daily reality of the epidemic demands that the Commission continue its work and services to the community.

Madrina Invites All to Cielo Latino

Isler invited all to attend Cielo Latino, the largest annual national fundraiser for the Latino community in its fight against HIV/AIDS, to be held this year on May 14. She made the invitation after she was named the Latino Commission on AIDS' Madrina (Godmother) in a media reception hosted by Macy's at Herald Square in New York City, a long-time supporter of the Commission and this year's Presenting Sponsor for the gala's Silent Auction.

"This is a great annual event in which we have the opportunity to honor those who are making a contribution to the fight against HIV and AIDS in communities around the nation and the World," said Isler during the official ceremony installing her as a 2014 international ambassador for the organization. "I proudly dedicate myself to the cause and I am honored to lend my support to the Latino Commission on AIDS."

Miss Universe joins a group of vital supporters, all of whom have been active voices committed to reaching a world without AIDS, including Carmen Dominicci, India, Paulina Rubio and past Miss Universe titleholders Olivia Culpo, Ximena Navarrete, Dayana Mendoza, Riyo Mori, Leila Lopes and Stefania Fernandez.

"I want to thank Miss Universe, Gabriela Isler, for bringing visibility to the work of the Commission, particularly through Cielo Latino, our most important fundraising event," said Chac�n.

For more information about the event, please visit www.cielolatino.org or www.latinoaids.org