Sadhana Chalasani Applauds Dedication of Rocio Ruiz to AIDS Prevention

Online, August 24, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Sadhana Chalasani believes that serving the community is an admirable calling, one to which she has dedicated a great deal of time and effort. As such, she applauds the work of fellow community members who take the initiative to improve the lives of others. A recent article about Rocio Ruiz, published by FOX News, demonstrates the kind of community leaders to which Chalasani looks up. A woman who has donated years to assisting others in avoiding HIV/AIDS, Ruiz has made a major impact on her community and is a positive role model for today's youth.

Ruiz grew up in the Bronx and witnessed the irresponsible behavior of her peers. A number of teenagers with whom she was friends became parents at a young age. In so doing, they exposed themselves to a high risk of contracting sexually transmitted and other diseases. At the same time, Ruiz's homosexual friends were receiving negative reactions when they came out. All of these factors contributed to her desire to improve public health. Ruiz has, since making the decision to assist in the fight for AIDS awareness and prevention, spent over a decade providing educational and other resources to community members.

Currently, Ruiz is working for Hyacinth AIDS Foundation as the Director of Prevention. In this capacity, she is able to assist in achieving the non-profit's goal, which is to offer "individual client advocacy as well as hotline counseling for prevention, care and treatment, service referrals, professional and community education workshops, and legal services."

Although the fight against AIDS poses many challenges, Ruiz is inspired, rather than daunted, by the efforts of individuals to improve their lives. She has adopted the philosophy of overcoming adversity by "Tak[ing] the leap and build[ing] the wings on the way down."

Sadhana Chalasani is encouraged by the efforts of Ruiz, which reflect a selflessness that Chalasani believes is missing in many areas of today's society. "The work that Rocio Ruiz is doing is incredible," asserts Chalasani. "As a young person in today's society, I wish we had more women like Ruiz to look up to. She has dedicated her life to helping others and she has succeeded in making her dreams a reality. I hope that her story inspires other people of my generation to not only notice problems in the world, but to go out and help bring about solutions."

ABOUT:

Sadhana Chalasani attended Saint Edward's School in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. During her high school career, Sadhana Chalasani participated in many community service organizations, including two that she founded: Grassroots AIDS Advocacy Program and the Pink Ribbon Club. Sadhana Chalasani dedicated her time to her education and serving others. In addition to spreading awareness regarding AIDS and breast cancer, she was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, and Model United Nations.