Charity of the Month

December 2025 - amFAR

Why World AIDS Day Still Matters - Even Without Official Recognition

Since 1988, World AIDS Day on December 1 has stood as a global moment to remember those lost to AIDS, support people living with HIV, and renew our commitment to ending the pandemic. Yet in 2025, the U.S. federal government made a troubling decision: it will no longer officially commemorate World AIDS Day. The U.S. State Department reportedly instructed employees and grantees to refrain from any public messaging — speeches, social-media posts, or other official communications — regarding the day.

This shift marks a break from decades of tradition, at a time when far too many people around the world still live with HIV — and many still face stigma, discrimination, or lack of access to prevention and care. But official silence does not change reality. If anything, this decision makes it more urgent than ever for individuals, communities, and advocacy groups to step up — to remember, to support, and to fight for justice and health equity.

Why amFAR Matters: Hope, Science & Action

That’s where organizations like amfAR come in. Since 1985, amfAR (the Foundation for AIDS Research) has been one of the world’s most important engines driving progress against HIV and AIDS. Their mission: to end the global AIDS epidemic through cutting-edge research, prevention efforts, treatment education, and advocacy.

  • To date, amfAR has raised nearly $950 million and awarded thousands of grants to research teams worldwide to better understand HIV and find more effective treatments — and ultimately, a cure.

  • Their work doesn’t stop at labs. amfAR supports programs to expand access to treatment, reduce stigma, protect marginalized populations, and advance public-policy efforts that defend the rights and dignity of people living with HIV.

  • Through long-standing commitment, amfAR continues to be a beacon of hope — proving that science, compassion, and activism combined can push us closer to a future where HIV is no longer a death sentence, and where no one has to face discrimination or neglect for their health status.

Together, we can keep the spirit of awareness, compassion, and action alive — no matter what official proclamations say. HIV didn’t end when people stopped talking about it. The fight continues.

What you can do - Even if THEY Stay Silent

Just because World AIDS Day isn’t officially marked this year doesn’t mean we can stay silent. You — yes, you — can:

  • Take a moment on December 1 to remember those lost and show support for people living with HIV (share a post, light a candle, wear red).

  • Learn about HIV prevention and treatment — knowledge saves lives and helps fight stigma.

  • Support and amplify the work of amfAR and other nonprofits working for research, care, and human rights.

  • Speak out: write, donate, volunteer, and talk to others about why this matters.