Hawaii Department Of Health STD/AIDS Prevention Branch Selects Tom Sheeran To Receive Suzanne Richmond-Crum Award

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 30 Nov 2008 - 0:00 PST

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The Hawai'i State Department of Health STD/AIDS Prevention Branch is pleased to honor Tom Sheeran with the 5th Annual Suzanne Richmond-Crum Award. Actively involved in the HIV/AIDS community in Hawai'i for nearly 20 years, Sheeran will be presented with the award at the World AIDS Day event on O'ahu, to be held from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. on Monday, December 1st at St. Clement's Church at 1515 Wilder Avenue in Honolulu. Sheeran will be present to receive his award.

"Tom Sheeran has consistently been committed to supporting all aspects of the HIV/AIDS community in Hawai'i, from being an advocate for persons with HIV/AIDS to assisting local organizations and agencies with their advocacy efforts," said Peter Whiticar, Chief of the DOH STD/AIDS Prevention Branch. "In all of these activities, he has given of his time selflessly on behalf of persons with HIV/AIDS. Sheeran is clearly a person deserving of recognition. This award provides an opportunity to acknowledge the commitment and compassion he has demonstrated to this community for almost two decades."

Dedicated to the memory of Suzanne Richmond-Crum, the former Director of the Hawai'i Seropositivity and Medical Management Program HSPAMM (an HIV/AIDS medical care program of the STD/AIDS Prevention Branch), the award is presented annually to an individual "for outstanding contribution in providing HIV/AIDS services in Hawai'i." Richmond-Crum passed away in August 2004 after serving as Director of HSPAMM for more than 10 years. Those who knew her admired the pride, commitment, competence and compassion she exhibited in all aspects of her professional life.

Tom Sheeran worked in the area of HIV/AIDS in Hawai'i for approximately 20 years as an openly HIV-positive gay man. He began attending People With AIDS Coalition (PWAC) meetings in Hawai'i in 1989, and became a PWAC Board member in 1995. In 1997, as PWAC-Hawai'i President, Mr. Sheeran organized the first, and only, statewide conference for PWAs.

From 1996-2005, Sheeran was a community member of the Governor's Committee on HIV/AIDS and in 1996 became the first openly HIV-positive member of the Board of Directors of Gregory House Programs, an agency that provides housing services statewide for people with HIV/AIDS .

Sheeran was a community member of Hawai'i CARES, the statewide HIV/AIDS care planning group, from 2000-2004, serving as Co-Chair for two years. One of his most effective roles has been as World AIDS Day Co-Chair for O'ahu since 2003.

As an advocate for persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), Sheeran lobbied for funding and bills at the Hawai'i legislature, and has helped to organize several HIV-related public service campaigns.

The public is invited to attend the World AIDS Day service on December 1st where Sheeran will be presented with the Suzanne Richmond-Crum Award.

There are many activities occurring statewide for World AIDS Day, December 1st, including other O'ahu-based events and Neighbor Island activities. For more information on all statewide World AIDS Day events, go to: http://www.worldaidsdayhawaii.org

World AIDS Day