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By Sara Herbert - Galloway
June 23, 2007, Sagaponack, NY. Luna Farm provided a beautiful
setting for Love Heals, the Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS
Education’s summer event in The Hamptons. Alison’s 3 best
friends; Stephanie Greenfield (SCOOP), Victoria Leacock, and
Dini von Mueffling cofounded Love Heals in honor of Ali after
she passed away from AIDS/HIV.
Alison Gertz contracted AIDS at the age of 16 from one single
sexual encounter. She was diagnosed with HIV in 1988 and died
in 1992. Ali devoted her final years to providing young people
with the information they need to protect themselves from
AIDS. The foundation continues to pass her message along.
According to Love Heals web site American’s between the ages
of 13 and 24 are contracting HIV/AIDS at an estimated rate of
two per hour. That is an estimated 20,000 new infections per
year, mostly from sex. The Love Heals Speakers Bureau works in
partnership with the New York City Board of Education. Love
Heals has reached more than 150,000 young people in the New
York City area and facilitated AIDS/HIV awareness through
education and workshops.
Love Heals helps enable young people to make informed choices
that can save their lives. |