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U.S. Business Action to End HIV: January 2025 Action Report
Welcome to the January edition of the Action Report! In this issue, we’re pleased to share the latest updates from U.S. Business Action to End HIV and our dedicated members. As the landscape of HIV and its impact on communities continues to evolve, we find strength in our shared commitment to progress.
We’re proud to highlight the efforts of our members, recap recent Coalition events, and feature a new Leading By Example profile with Tasha Menaker, Senior Director of Social Impact at Match Group.
Actions From Members
Vikki Walton, Head of MercerWELL at Mercer, participated in the Black Women’s Initiative (BWI) full-day meeting at The White House on January 10, 2025, focusing on the role that C-Suite leaders can play in reducing HIV disparities impacting Black women in the United States. More than 35 C-Suite leaders and other participants came together to examine the state of Black women and HIV in the U.S., discuss how C-Suite leaders can mobilize their networks to address HIV in the Black community, and develop actionable steps to improve HIV outcomes for Black women both within their organizations and in the broader community.
“This meeting was highly successful in addressing HIV within the Black community,” said Vikki. “I was excited to showcase the collaboration between HAA and Mercer while highlighting the critical role of engaging the private sector. It was truly an honor, and I eagerly anticipate continuing this important engagement.”
“This meeting was highly successful in addressing HIV within the Black community,” said Vikki. “I was excited to showcase the collaboration between HAA and Mercer while highlighting the critical role of engaging the private sector. It was truly an honor, and I eagerly anticipate continuing this important engagement.”
AvitaCare Atlanta, in partnership with MedCura Health, is hosting Stomp the Noise: Be Fearless, and confidential HIV and STI testing event Monday, Feb. 3 to Friday, Feb. 7. If you are in Metro Atlanta, please share the news about this event.
Coalition ally and Houston Chapter member Larneka Lavalais LPC, in collaboration with organizations including Allies in Hope, participated in the4 The Invisible 1's Holiday Health Check-in last month. The event provided free information to attendees about mental and physical well-being, including HIV, and coincided with the Annual No Bare Feet Project, which gives the Houston unhoused community access to new socks and food.
Actions From the Coalition
The Government Relations & Public Affairs cohort met earlier this month to confirm their 2025 goals, which include:
Educating policymakers on the continued need to address HIV in the U.S. and support prevention and treatment programs.
Maintaining current public health programs, policies, and funding for HIV research and education and opposing harmful cuts and policies that would increase HIV transmission and lead to higher HIV-related mortality rates.
Expanding access to testing, prevention, and treatment and addressing disparities.
Since the meeting, we have confirmed the cohort leadership and have hired a consultant, Jirair Ratevosian, to help advance the group's priorities.
Bi-weekly cohort meetings will begin on Tuesday, February 4. If you have not already participated in the Government Relations & Public Affairs cohort and are interested in joining the next meeting, please let us know.
Government Relations & Public Affairs Cohort Leadership
Co-Chair: Carl Schmid, Executive Director, HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute
Co-Chair: Will Cunningham, Senior Director and Head of Government Relations for the Americas, Match Group
Scribe: Taimur Khan, Physician/Associated Medical Research Director, Fenway Health
Advisor: Jirair Ratevosion, Policy analyst, researcher, former Chief of Staff at PEPFAR, and member of PACHA
The HIV Testing Cohort also convened earlier this month and set goals for the year as well, including:
Gaining a clearer understanding of the FDA’s proposed framework and objectives for HIV self-collection kits to ensure actionable pathways for implementation.
Building trust in the safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance of HIV testing technologies.
We have also confirmed the three cohort chairs and biweekly meetings will commence in February (invite to come). If you have not already participated in the HIV Testing cohort and are interested in joining the next meeting, please let us know.
HIV Testing Cohort Leadership
Co-Chair: Dr. Chris Hall, Chief Medical Officer, Avita Care Solutions
Co-Chair: Nima Shiraz, Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer, IHDLabs
Co-Chair: Jeffrey Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Allies in Hope
Earlier this month, the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce hosted a B/ERG Leadership Roundtable presented by NRG Energy. Mario joined the meeting to share the work of Houston Business Action to End HIV and invited more than 30 E/BRG leaders and Chamber Impact Partners to join the Houston Chapter and attend the upcoming meeting on February 12. During the meeting, Mario also previewed the Coalition’s upcoming ERG resource set to debut in the Spring.
Opportunities for Action
Renew membership for 2025: We are inviting current Coalition members to renew membership for this year. If you haven’t done so already, please take a few minutes to complete this form. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Recognize National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7 by sharing information and resources with your colleagues and followers about the disproportionate impact of HIV among Black and African American communities in the U.S.
You can also join the 2025 NBHAAD Webinar - Breaking Barriers, Building Health presented by My Brother's Keeper on Thursday, February 6, 2 - 3pm ET. This webinar will highlight strategies and solutions to address challenges in HIV prevention and care within Black communities, and examine the critical role of access, education, and resources in improving health outcomes. Register here.
HIV in the News
Glassman: How Trump can meet his goal of ending AIDS, Boston Herald (January 6). President Trump’s 2019 initiative to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, continued by President Biden, requires sustained funding to maximize innovations and progress.
Trump Pauses Disbursements to Program Supplying H.I.V. Treatment Worldwide, NYTimes (January 24). PEPFAR, which has provided lifesaving treatment to 25 million people across 54 countries, faces a funding delay of up to 180 days due to President Trump’s executive order halting foreign aid disbursements for review.
“Leading by Example” is a series from U.S. Business Action to End HIV highlighting inspiring business leaders who are accelerating progress toward an end to the HIV epidemic in the U.S.
Tasha Menaker, PhD
Sr. Director of Social Impact
Match Group
Why do you believe it's important for businesses to play a role in our nation's efforts to end the HIV epidemic? Businesses should play a role in our nation's efforts to end the HIV epidemic because we are able to build stronger communities, shape inclusive workplaces, and influence societal attitudes. We are able to leverage our platforms to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote education about HIV prevention and treatment. We can also foster inclusive workplaces through supportive policies and promote health equity by expanding access to resources and information through partnerships like the U.S. Business Action to End HIV and Human Rights Campaign.
What is Match Group most proud of so far in regard to your work to address HIV? We are proud that many of our brands have demonstrated a strong commitment to sexual health awareness and HIV prevention, particularly within communities most affected by the epidemic. For example, BLK, Chispa, and Archer sent in-app notifications offering free testing kits delivered directly to users’ doors, resulting in thousands of kits distributed to Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ community members. Last November, Tinder collaborated with NGOs Sidragtion and Sidaction to host a fundraising event in France for World AIDS Day, bringing together influencers, creators, NGOs, and users to support HIV research. These initiatives highlight how our brands have effectively partnered with organizations to leverage their reach and create meaningful impact.
Why is it important for Match Group to be part of the U.S. Business Action to End HIV coalition? Match Group is dedicated to promoting inclusivity, reproductive justice, and LGBTQ+ rights. Joining the coalition reflects our commitment to addressing critical issues like sexual health, which align with our values and social impact focus areas.
Our businesses are reliant on people feeling comfortable bringing their most authentic selves to their dating journey, so it is in the interest of our business and our users to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote education about HIV prevention and treatment.
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