Catherine Robinson-Pickett is being awarded
Pediatric Nursing's 2004 Humanitarian
Award for her 12 years of tireless efforts as an HIV
educator and advocate and for her efforts
in founding the community organization Friends-Together in Florida.
Nineteen years ago, Robinson-Pickett
acquired HIV when raped
(excerpt from People
Magazine 5/19/03, accessed 4/22/04 at
www.friendstogether.org). She is particularly
inspiring for turning
that potentially devastating situation into an opportunity to help others.
While dealing with HIV and eventually AIDS,
herself, as well as raising her two uninfected
children, Robinson-Pickett has dedicated herself to
making a difference for individuals and families at risk
of or
dealing with HIV/AIDS.
Robinson-Pickett's educational initiatives have included extensive public speaking to classes, student assemblies,
and conferences, as well as to communities typically not targeted with
this education. She has also developed educational videos; initiated a public
service ad campaign that includes posters,
brochures, and media messages; and founded camps providing support, companionship, and education for
families and individuals with HIV/AIDS.
A sampling of Robinson-Pickett's advocacy efforts
includes long-time activity in the HIV-infected
community,
lobbying efforts for
patient's rights, work on AIDS policy and
law in Florida, service as patient care
representative for Florida Community
Planning, service on boards of numerous prevention and patient care organizations, and service as the Consumer
Caucus founding Chairperson for the state of Florida.
Several years ago, when Robinson-Pickett's health
began
to decline, she and her husband Steve Pickett - who has himself long been involved as an uninfected caregiver/buddy for
persons with HIV/AIDS - founded the organization
Friends-Together to carry on
their work. The organization's mission
statement reads as follows
As a community-based organization, Friends-Together,
Inc. will serve the physical,
emotional and spiritual needs of people infected
and affected with HIV. The education and prevention component will carry
out both community education and secondary
prevention, as well as provide support groups. It will also seek to serve the
needs of disenfranchised youth
through life skills training and mentoring
(Friends Together, 2004).
In 2003 alone, Friends-Together hosted
three free camps staffed by volunteers and serving over 350 participants. Some 220 people
had to be turned away due to lack of funds and space. According to Robinson-Pickett, the camps help "empower,
mentor, educate and network families that are dealing with secrets, grief,
death, poverty, educational barriers, and isolation" (Friends Together,
2004). Activities are provided for
adults, teens, and children so that no one is left out.
In 2003, in addition to hosting camps,
Friends-Together hosted four well-attended picnics in Polk County, FL, and a
Christmas party providing gifts and dinner, most
donated by
individuals and community organizations, to some 195 people.
In 2003, Robinson-Pickett, along with other Friends-Together volunteers, conducted over 160 lectures in
educational settings. In fact,
over the past 4 years, Friends-Together
has brought HIV education to thousands of people all over the
country. Its Web site, www.friendstogether.org,
provides information and links useful to
persons with HIV/AIDS in Florida
and nationwide. A special touch on the Web site is the opportunity to e-mail any question confidentially to Robinson-Pickett who will personally reply.
A savvy and resourceful organization,
Friends-Together has
developed a number of community partnerships,
including one with Florida Southern College.
Students earn community service
hours and credit for internships with Friends-Together. College faculty involve students
in research related to HIV/AIDS
attitudes.
Pediatric Nursing
is not the first organization
to honor Robinson-Pickett for her outstanding work. She has been named a Young
Floridian of the Year and has received the Florida
Governor's Point of Light Award. She has been named one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans and a
Daily National Point of Light.
Robinson-Pickett has been knighted with
the Arch Angel of Michael Award from The International Police Chief Association, honored as a
Humanitarian of the Year by The River
Fund, and named one of the five international Angels of AIDS by People
Magazine. Other honors include a Partners in
Education Award from The Collier Education
Foundation.
Interested in helping further Robinson-Pickett's exemplary
work?
A tax-deductible donation will help Friends-Together better
serve
those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. As an example, a $75 donation will
allow one person to attend a Friends-Together camp for a day, and $150 will
allow one person to attend a Friends-Together weekend camp. Smaller donations
will buy school supplies, Christmas gifts, or fund education and outreach. For a
current list of needed supplies, email hiveducation@aol.com. Friends-Together can be reached at
Friends-Together, Inc.,