Dennis deLeon, president of the Latino Commission on AIDS, announced that Kat DeLuna is the 2008 International Ambassador to the Commission. Ms. DeLuna will accept the title passed down from Gael Garcia Bernal on May 13, 2008, at Cipriani Wall Street during Cielo Latino, the largest national fundraiser for the Latino community in its fight against AIDS.
In recent months, Ms. DeLuna has emerged as one of the defining faces of pop’s next generation. Ms. DeLuna’s sound is a colorful canvas of strokes blending together hip hop, R&B, meringue, pop, Latin jazz, electronic, and dance. She has been honored as MTV Tr3s’ Best New Artist and nominated for a Latin Billboard Award. Ms. DeLuna was also featured in People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, Teen Vogue, and Latina magazine.
Ms. DeLuna was born in the Bronx but she was raised in the Dominican Republic. After much hardship, Ms. DeLuna decided to use her emotions to fuel her music and began writing her own music and pursuing her lifelong dream of being a singer. This drive led Ms. DeLuna to have the hit single “Whine Up” featuring Elephant Man.
“As a Latina I am committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS in our community,” said DeLuna. “The Latino Commission on AIDS has made great strides in HIV prevention and I am honored to serve as their International Ambassador in the fight. Now is the time to call attention to the problems this disease is bringing to Latino communities across the U.S. and Latin America. Together as a community we can better stop the spread of the disease and provide better care for people living with HIV.”
Cielo Latino draws celebrities from all over such as Lupe Ontiveros, Rosie Perez, Amaury Nolasco, Odalys Molina, Jorge Villamizar, Geraldo Rivera (host), Cucu Diamantes (entertainment), Jaslene Gonzalez, Miss Teen USA Hilary Cruz, Miss USA Crystal Stewart, and former Miss USA Denise Quiñones.
For further information, please visit www.latinoaids.org/Cielo or contact Elayne Monnens at 212-584-9318.
The Latino Commission on AIDS is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Latino community. In response to the critical, unmet need for HIV prevention and care for Latinos, a coalition of Latino leaders founded the agency in 1990. The Commission realizes its mission by spearheading health advocacy for Latinos, promoting HIV education, developing model prevention programs for high-risk communities, building capacity in local organizations and health departments, and by conducting community-driven research and evaluation. Through its extensive network of member organizations and community leaders, the Commission works to mobilize an effective Latino community response to the health crisis created by HIV/AIDS. The Commission is currently providing services in more than 40 States, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Since 1993 the Commission has been directed by Dennis deLeon, a national advocate and visionary leader of the Latino community’s struggle to contain the AIDS epidemic.”*
