The award will be presented during a World AIDS Day Commemoration at UN Headquarters
NEW YORK, November 12, 2026 — In recognition of its more than 40 years of leadership in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, the United Nations Association of New York (UNA-NYC) will present amfAR with its Humanitarian Award on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2026. amfAR CEO Kyle Clifford will accept the award alongside fellow honorees Annie Lennox; Cleve Jones, architect of the AIDS Memorial Quilt; Levi Strauss & Co.; and Dr. David Ho, whose research led to the development of antiretroviral therapy 30 years ago.
“It’s an extraordinary honor to accept the Humanitarian Award on amfAR’s behalf. I take a pill each morning that reminds me I am a living embodiment of the impact amfAR-funded research has—and continues to—have,” Clifford said. “Our work is not finished; I welcome the opportunity to encourage the United Nations to continue its work to fulfill its commitment to ending AIDS by 2030.”
The awards will be presented during a World AIDS Day Commemoration at the ECOSOC Chamber at UN Headquarters. Previous recipients of the UNA-NYC Humanitarian Award include UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon, late amfAR Trustee Harry Belafonte, Michelle Yeoh, The Estée Lauder Companies, and more.
About amfAR
amfAR is a leading nonprofit dedicated to advancing scientific discovery and transforming global health with a primary and enduring commitment to ending the HIV/ AIDS epidemic. Serving as a catalyst for breakthrough science, amfAR supports innovative research in areas where viruses and the immune system play a defining role, including cancer, neurological conditions, autoimmune disorders, and other viral diseases. Through strategic investments, global research partnerships, and evidence-based policy leadership, amfAR helps accelerate discoveries that improve health and save lives. Since 1985, amfAR has raised more than $950 million and awarded in excess of 3,900 grants to scientists worldwide. Learn more at www.amfar.org.
Media Contact:
Robert Kessler; Associate Director, Program Communications
(212) 806-1602
robert.kessler@amfar.org
