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United Nations Association San Diego Chapter awards outstanding ctizens in Southern California

SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 25, 2004 - Emmy-nominated Jerry Skeels & Randy McLaughlin of Jeran Design, and Assemblymember Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) were honored on Friday, October 15th by the United Nations Association of San Diego (UNA-SD). Jeran Design was honored with the UNA International Spirit Award, for their creation of the celebrity AIDS gown, The Hollywood Graffiti Gown™. Assemblymember Kehoe was honored with the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award for her support of HIV/AIDS healthcare programs and funding, legislation that promotes equal rights for women, and her commitment to the UNA-SD.

"I am honored to be receiving the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights. It was Mrs. Roosevelt who was a true champion of those less fortunate. She fought the good fight to bring about needed social change, and that is how I strive to carry out my service in public office," Assemblymember Kehoe said. Assemblymember Kehoe has been at the forefront of civil and human rights issues in San Diego for over twenty-five years. In the 1980s, she served as one of the early directors of the AIDS Assistance Fund, which grew into the San Diego AIDS Foundation.

"We were honored that our creative work towards AIDS awareness and prevention was recognized at UN Day 2004 by the United Nations Association. To have received this award is a career highlight, and we hope the gown project will inspire others to put their talent to good use for human kind," said Jerry Skeels of Jeran Design.

The glamorous Hollywood Graffiti Gown, graced from head to toe with over 350 famous women’s signatures, hand-beaded into the floor length velvet gown by Jeran Design, was presented and worn by Actress Lindsay Wagner at the black-tie affair, which focused on UN millennium development goals as it relates to women and HIV/AIDS. She wore the striking gown representing the voices of these famous and leading women of the world who support the fight against AIDS. Some signatures include Elizabeth Taylor, Sharon Stone, Katharine Hepburn and Whoopi Goldberg. Wagner was also presented with a special mural tribute by the UNESCO backed Art Miles Mural Project featuring her in the Hollywood Graffiti Gown, her career successes and her commitments to the community.

The United Nations Association-USA (UNA-USA) was founded in 1946, in New York city. It is the nation's largest grassroots foreign policy organization and the leading center of policy research on the United Nations and global issues. The UNA- San Diego Chapter (UNA-SD) (www.unasd.org) was also founded in 1946. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, the United Nations Building has been home to UNA-SD since 1960. The UNA-SD Building houses the administrative office, the Eleanor Roosevelt Global Classroom, and a beautiful international and UNICEF gift shop. Chapter programs include annual commemorations of International Women's Day, United Nations Charter Day, United Nations Day, and Human Rights Day.

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United Nations Association San Diego Chapter awards outstanding ctizens in Southern California SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 25, 2004 - Emmy-nominated Jerry Skeels & Randy McLaughlin of Jeran Design, and Assemblymember Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) were honored on Friday, October 15th by the United Nations Association of San Diego (UNA-SD). Jeran Design was honored with the UNA International Spirit Award, for their creation of the celebrity AIDS gown, The Hollywood Graffiti Gown™. Assemblymember Kehoe was honored with the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award for her support of HIV/AIDS healthcare programs and funding, legislation that promotes equal rights for women, and her commitment to the UNA-SD. "I am honored to be receiving the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights. It was Mrs. Roosevelt who was a true champion of those less fortunate. She fought the good fight to bring about needed social change, and that is how I strive to carry out my service in public office," Assemblymember Kehoe said. Assemblymember Kehoe has been at the forefront of civil and human rights issues in San Diego for over twenty-five years. In the 1980s, she served as one of the early directors of the AIDS Assistance Fund, which grew into the San Diego AIDS Foundation. "We were honored that our creative work towards AIDS awareness and prevention was recognized at UN Day 2004 by the United Nations Association. To have received this award is a career highlight, and we hope the gown project will inspire others to put their talent to good use for human kind," said Jerry Skeels of Jeran Design. The glamorous Hollywood Graffiti Gown, graced from head to toe with over 350 famous women’s signatures, hand-beaded into the floor length velvet gown by Jeran Design, was presented and worn by Actress Lindsay Wagner at the black-tie affair, which focused on UN millennium development goals as it relates to women and HIV/AIDS. She wore the striking gown representing the voices of these famous and leading women of the world who support the fight against AIDS. Some signatures include Elizabeth Taylor, Sharon Stone, Katharine Hepburn and Whoopi Goldberg. Wagner was also presented with a special mural tribute by the UNESCO backed Art Miles Mural Project featuring her in the Hollywood Graffiti Gown, her career successes and her commitments to the community. The United Nations Association-USA (UNA-USA) was founded in 1946, in New York city. It is the nation's largest grassroots foreign policy organization and the leading center of policy research on the United Nations and global issues. The UNA- San Diego Chapter (UNA-SD) (www.unasd.org) was also founded in 1946. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, the United Nations Building has been home to UNA-SD since 1960. The UNA-SD Building houses the administrative office, the Eleanor Roosevelt Global Classroom, and a beautiful international and UNICEF gift shop. Chapter programs include annual commemorations of International Women's Day, United Nations Charter Day, United Nations Day, and Human Rights Day. ###

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