Esperanza Will Release Tonight the Results of a Study to Advocate for HIV/AIDS Awareness

Esperanza, the country's leading faith-based Hispanic organization, will release tonight the results of a study about Latino churches and the HIV/AIDS epidemic called "Answering the Call: How Latino Churches can Respond to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic". The research is a joint venture of Esperanza and The University of Notre Dame's Institute for Latino Studies. The results of the study will be presented tonight as part of the National Health Initiatives Dinner, one of the events of the 2007 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference, taking place June 13-15th in the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The research is said to give better understanding on how Latino churches and clergy might be involved in helping people living with HIV/AIDS and how the congregations and their leaders are responding to the disease and those it affects in their communities.

The National Health Initiatives Dinner will gather hundreds of Hispanic clergy and community leaders, as well as political officials. The event will be hosted by Mujeres de Esperanza (Women of Hope), Esperanza's national ministry that unites women of all ages across the nation in prayer, affirmation and service.

To request a copy of the entire study, contact Marisol Martinez at press@esperanza.us or 215-324-0746, extension 205.

Esperanza is a faith-based non-profit organization committed to raising awareness and identifying resources that strengthen the Hispanic community. Esperanza's initiatives help develop communities, provide technical assistance to Latino faith and community-based organizations, advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, and provide workforce development opportunities. For more information on the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference, Esperanza, and its national programs and resources, go to http://www.esperanza.us.