NEW YORK, Oct. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On October 28, 2026, beneath the iconic blue whale at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, AID FOR AIDS and AID FOR LIFE will bring together leaders from entertainment, diplomacy, philanthropy, human rights and global health for the My Hero Gala, commemorating three decades of humanitarian impact grounded in one powerful principle: dignity should have no borders.

The 30th-anniversary celebration, themed “Dignity Across Borders,” will honor four remarkable Venezuelans whose lives and careers embody leadership, service and solidarity across borders: internationally acclaimed actor, producer and activist Edgar Ramírez; Ambassador Nathalie Rayes, former U.S. Ambassador to Croatia and the first Venezuelan-American to serve as a U.S. ambassador; philanthropist and former AID FOR AIDS Board Chair Maria Eugenia Maury; and Venezuelan human-rights lawyer and global HIV/AIDS advocate Mary Ann Torres, former Executive Director of the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations.

Co-chaired by Adriana Cisneros, CEO and Vice-Chairman of Grupo Cisneros, and Roman Torres Boscan, Portfolio Director, U.S. Clean Energy at The Schmidt Family Foundation, the evening will be both a celebration and an urgent call to action. Funds raised through the Gala will help sustain access to lifesaving HIV treatment, expand services for migrants and newly arrived families, and support long-term earthquake recovery efforts in Venezuela.

For AID FOR AIDS and AID FOR LIFE, the 30th anniversary represents far more than an institutional milestone. It reflects the evolution of a humanitarian mission that began by responding to the global HIV treatment crisis and has grown to address the interconnected health, social and economic challenges facing vulnerable communities throughout the Americas.

Founded in 1996, AID FOR AIDS created the world’s largest HIV medicine redistribution program of its kind, redirecting unused, unexpired medicines to people living with HIV where treatment was unavailable or inaccessible. Over three decades, it has redistributed more than $220 million in lifesaving medicines, helped more than 55,000 people in 75 countries remain on treatment, reached more than two million young people through HIV prevention, and supported thousands of children living with HIV. Its work expanded into advocacy, education and leadership development, including a 2018 coordinated access mechanism that made AID FOR AIDS the leading provider of antiretroviral medicines in Venezuela and secured a full year of treatment for 35,000 people.

As Venezuela’s humanitarian and displacement crisis spread across the region, AID FOR LIFE emerged to address the broader needs of migrants and vulnerable families. Today, through 34 service sites across Latin America—including Colombia, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Mexico—and communities receiving migrants after the dangerous Darién Gap crossing, AID FOR LIFE connects people with healthcare, humanitarian assistance and pathways to rebuild their lives. Since 2022, its New York City programs have helped more than 40,000 newly arrived immigrants navigate integration through case management, legal and mental-health support, English-language and workforce programs, financial education, civic engagement, healthcare, and sports and cultural initiatives.

“For 30 years, we have learned that a border can define a country, but it should never define the value of a human life,” said Jesus Aguais, Founder and President of AID FOR AIDS and AID FOR LIFE. “‘Dignity Across Borders’ is more than the theme of this Gala—it is the story of the people we serve. It is the person living with HIV who needs uninterrupted treatment, the migrant crossing a continent in search of safety, the family beginning again in New York, and the communities in Venezuela now facing the long road to recovery after the earthquakes. We bring these missions together because dignity, compassion and opportunity must travel farther than any crisis.”

FOUR HEROES. FOUR PATHS. ONE SHARED COMMITMENT.

Edgar Ramírez
An internationally acclaimed actor whose performances have resonated with audiences around the world, Ramírez has consistently used his visibility to amplify humanitarian causes and the experiences of communities in need. His global career reflects the power of culture to create understanding and connection across languages, borders and identities.

Nathalie Rayes
A trailblazer in public service and international diplomacy, Rayes served as U.S. Ambassador to Croatia and became the first Venezuelan-American to serve as a U.S. ambassador. Her career has spanned government, philanthropy, nonprofit leadership and international affairs, bringing a distinctive Venezuelan-American perspective to the global stage.

Maria Eugenia Maury
A respected Venezuelan philanthropist and former Chair of the AID FOR AIDS Board, Maury has been a longtime champion of the organization’s mission and an essential member of the community surrounding its humanitarian work. Her leadership represents philanthropy’s power to transform conviction and generosity into lasting impact.

Mary Ann Torres
A Venezuelan human-rights lawyer and internationally recognized HIV/AIDS advocate, Torres has devoted her career to advancing health and human rights. As former Executive Director of ICASO, she helped elevate the voices and protect the rights of communities affected by HIV, embodying the principle that public health and human rights are inseparable.

The honorees join a distinguished legacy of My Hero Gala recipients drawn from science, medicine, entertainment, design and public service. Previous honorees have included leading HIV researchers and physicians, as well as internationally recognized artists, advocates and cultural figures.

This year’s Gala carries particular significance for Venezuela. Following the two earthquakes that struck the country this summer, AID FOR LIFE helped mobilize a broad diaspora-led response in New York City, uniting humanitarian organizations, Venezuelan-owned businesses, volunteers, and community leaders to activate more than 50 collection points and deliver truckloads of medical supplies, food, water, and other essential aid. As the response moves from emergency relief to long-term recovery, the focus will be on helping children and families rebuild through trusted healthcare, mental-health support, safe community spaces, basic necessities, and programs incorporating sports and the arts—building on the need for sustained investment beyond the immediate crisis.

While Venezuela remains a central priority, the Gala will also advance the organizations’ wider mission throughout Latin America and in New York – from maintaining HIV treatment for people in resource-limited countries to supporting individuals and families through their migration journey, and helping newly arrived New Yorkers establish stable and independent lives.

At the American Museum of Natural History, the evening will bring together an influential community of philanthropists, business leaders, artists, diplomats, advocates and humanitarian champions for an evening of recognition, reflection and solidarity—and an opportunity to invest in a model of humanitarian action that has reached people across borders for 30 years.

For sponsorship and ticket information, visit: https://www.aidforaids.org/rsvp

ABOUT AID FOR AIDS

Founded in 1996, AID FOR AIDS is an international humanitarian organization dedicated to improving access to lifesaving HIV treatment and advancing health and human rights for vulnerable communities. The organization created the largest HIV medicine redistribution program of its kind in the world and has redistributed more than $220 million in HIV medications, helping more than 55,000 people in 75 countries remain on treatment. Its work includes treatment access, prevention, education, advocacy, leadership development and humanitarian assistance across the Americas and around the world.

ABOUT AID FOR LIFE

Founded in 2016, AID FOR LIFE addresses the interconnected health, humanitarian and social needs of migrants, displaced people and other vulnerable populations. Through 34 service sites across Latin America and comprehensive integration programs in New York City, the organization connects individuals and families with healthcare, legal assistance, mental-health support, education, employment resources and other essential services. Since 2022, AID FOR LIFE has helped more than 40,000 newly arrived immigrants in New York build pathways toward stability, integration and dignity.

Contact:        
Roy Cosme
rcosme@arcos-ny.com
212-807-1337 x11

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ac253102-ee36-4681-bf13-86ff2bd5bacf


Primary Logo

About The Author
Aid For Aids International, Inc.