The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest nonprofit HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, was recently honored with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Social Justice Award during The King Center’s annual “Beloved Community Awards” in Atlanta.
The honor, which serves as nonprofit center’s highest recognition for contributions to social justice, was presented by Dr. Bernice A. King, chief executive officer of The King Center and the youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and NBA legend Norm Nixon.
Founded in 1987, AHF has grown into a global leader in HIV/AIDS care, currently serving over 2.2 million people in 17 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and 47 countries worldwide.
Beginning as a series of hospices, AHF has since transformed those hospices into healthcare centers, utilizing innovative, holistic approaches to treating patients through a network of “non-profit pharmacies, thrift stores, health and wellness centers, affordable housing locations and food service programs,” according to a release.
“We recognize AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s transformative work in advancing health equity, combating HIV/AIDS, and championing the rights and dignity of underserved communities worldwide. For decades, AHF has exemplified what it means to serve with compassion, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to justice. By providing access to lifesaving care, advocacy, and education to millions of individuals globally, AHF has become a beacon of hope and a powerful voice for those most marginalized by systemic inequities,” said Bonita Hampton Smith, chief operating officer of The King Center.
“The values at the heart of your mission—compassion, equity, and a steadfast belief in the worth of every human being—align so powerfully with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of the Beloved Community. Your organization’s efforts remind all of us that justice is not merely an ideal but an action, and that a healthier, fairer world is possible when we center the needs of the most vulnerable.”
AHF President Michael Weinstein, unable to attend due to wildfire relief efforts in Los Angeles, shared his appreciation via a video.
“No honor means more to me and to AHF than for the inheritors of Dr. King’s legacy to recognize AHF’s contribution to the continuance of his work,” said Weinstein.
Cynthia Davis, a longtime AHF board member, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.