RACHEL SMITH, MISS USA®, VISITS KENYA
ON BEHALF OF PROJECT SUNSHINE
This trip will raise awareness and funds for the HIV/AIDS epidemic
throughout the world during Project Sunshine Week
New York, NY – June 08, 2007 - Committed celebrities and donors will visit Project Sunshine's first international program at Bomu Clinic in Mombasa, Kenya from June 10th -18th 2007. Rachel Smith, Miss USA®, along with other supporters will attend the Project Sunshine Outreach Day at Bomu Clinic, joining over 500 children and families throughout Mombasa as they come together at Bomu Medical Center for a day of free fun and free HIV/AIDS testing sponsored by Project Sunshine. They will be the first team of Project Sunshine Volunteers to hang a mural in the entrance to Bomu Medical Center. This mural will be predominantly displayed at the expanded Bomu Medical Center as a symbol of inspiration and hope to everyone that enters the facility.
About the HIV/AIDS Kenya Program
Project Sunshine's program and volunteers have reached over 400 children and families that are affected by HIV/AIDS in Mombasa, Kenya through HIV/AIDS prevention programs as well as arts and crafts, reading and writing activities. According to a nurse at Bomu Medical Center, "Project Sunshine's programs are an essential part of the HIV treatment and therapy at Bomu. "Families turn to Project Sunshine just as they turn to medical treatment, they can't have one without the other."
About Project Sunshine
Project Sunshine is a nonprofit organization that provides free services to children and families living with medical challenges. The organization, which was founded in 1998 out of a college dorm room, now serves 100,000 families in than 30 states throughout the U.S., Canada and Kenya, brightening the lives of more and more children each day. "Project Sunshine's programs in Kenya empower volunteers to help educate the children and families suffering from HIV/AIDS," said Amy Saperstein Executive Director of Project Sunshine. "Our social and educational programs spread sunshine and hope to the changing face of HIV/AIDS in Kenya and throughout the world."
About Rachel Smith, Miss USA®, and the Miss Universe Organization
During her reign, Rachel will work with the official causes of Miss USA, which include breast and ovarian cancer education, research, and legislation. She will travel nationwide as an advocate for organizations such as the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Gilda's Club, among others. This will be Rachel's second trip to Africa. In January 2007, she traveled to South Africa as a volunteer at Oprah Winfrey's Leadership Academy for Girls.
The Miss Universe Organization, producers of the MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® competitions, is a Donald J. Trump and NBC partnership.
For More Information:
Project Sunshine
Naomi Remis
Naomi@projectsunshine.org
212-354-8035
Miss Universe Organization
Lark-Marie Anton
lanton@missuniverse.com
(212) 373-4982
Esther Swan
eswan@missuniverse.com
(212) 373-4870
Joyce Lee
jlee@missuniverse.com
(212) 373-4868