The City of Pasadena Public Health Department will honor Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada) with its Andrew Escajeda Humanitarian Award Thursday at Pasadena City Hall.
Portantino is being recognized for his work to create greater community awareness about prevention, treatment and social services for HIV/AIDS, according to a press release from Portantino's office. Portantino has partnered with the Pasadena Public Health Department to offer free HIV testing for the past several years, and he also has hosted the annual HIV/AIDS Action Summit at City of Hope Hospital in Duarte.
In a prepared statement, the legislator said he is "deeply honored'' by the recognition.
"The Pasadena Health Department is a terrific partner and it has been a pleasure to pool our resources. Together, we have worked towards increasing available information and creating strategies that can be used to prevent and fight this disease,” Portantino said in the press release.
Portantino has authored legislation that enables the best practice models of HIV counseling and testing, and has led efforts to ensure that California receives its fair share of federal HIV funding.
The City of Pasadena is hosting a World AIDS Day ceremony in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the first reports of AIDS in the U.S., as well as recognizing 20 years of the department’s Andrew Escajeda Clinic. The event begins at 5:30pm on the steps of City Hall with a candle lighting ceremony.
