2013 Philadelphia FIGHT for Life Gala

From left: Philadelphia FIGHT deputy director Mike Marisico, vice president of the board of directors Bishop Ernest McNear, executive director Jane Shull and former Governor Ed Rendell. Shull said Rendell was on the forefront of the battle against HIV/AIDS from the very beginning. "Because of Ed Rendell’s support and efforts, people living with HIV and the LGBT community have more protections and greater access to lifesaving therapies."

Many of the city's leaders were in attendance, including former Councilman Angel Ortiz, Councilman Mark Squilla and Councilwoman Maria D. Quiñones-Sánchez. Here, from left, are Robert C. Nelson, president and CEO of Philadelphia OIC, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown and Councilman David Oh.

From left: Neil and Ellen Sklaroff and Scott Wilds, president of the board of directors of Philadelphia FIGHT.

From left: Thom Cardwell, Robin Austin and Tony Bruno.

From left: Angela Kapalko, MHS, PA-C and physician assistant at the Jonathan Lax Center and Linden Lalley-Chareczko, research assistant at the Lax Center

From left: Dominic Negron, State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione and Rick Lombardo, director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. Tartaglione helped to distribute more than 1,500 Thanksgiving turkeys to needy families in the Second Senate District over Thanksgiving.

From left: Dana Persia, State Senator Larry Farnese and Renee Gilinger.

Philadelphia FIGHT board members, from left: Rick Lombardo, Scott Drake and Karam Mounzer. They tell me that it's the goal and hope of Philadelphia FIGHT to end the AIDS epidemic within the lifetime of those currently living with HIV, and their organization has helped to make great inroads in achieving that mission.