CONTACT: Cable Positive Thomas Dima 212.459.1605 thomas@cablepositive.org

ADELPHIA’S IDA TAGLIENTE NAMED 2005 BRAD WOJCOSKI MEMORIAL AWARD RECIPIENT

Tagliente is Recognized for Her Leadership in the Community and Her Work in the Fight Against HIV and AIDS in Los Angeles

NEW YORK, NY - August 30, 2005
Cable Positive, the cable and telecommunications industry’s AIDS action organization, has named Ida Tagliente, Regional Manager Public Relations and Community Affairs, Adelphia Communications, as the 2005 Brad Wojcoski Memorial Award recipient for outstanding contribution to the fight against HIV and AIDS by a cable industry employee in their local community.  As part of the honor, Cable Positive will grant $2,500 to The Wall Las Memorias, a Los Angeles AIDS service organization supporting the Latino community, in Ida’s name.

“Ida Tagliente is just the kind of community mover and shaker who personifies the grassroots work of cable industry activists around the country in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” said Cable Positive President & CEO Steve Villano.  “Just a few weeks ago, she headed a consortium of cable companies in a partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium entitled “Strike Out AIDS,” resulting in extensive education in the LA community about HIV/AIDS and the work of The Wall Las Memorias to educate LA’s Latino community about what the disease is doing to their community.   Ida lives her commitment to the cause in everything she does.”

For over a decade, Ida has passionately integrated her professional career with her commitment to the fight against AIDS.  She currently serves as Chairperson on the board of directors for The Wall Las Memorias, a non-profit organization that provides education and outreach to the Latino community about AIDS. With Ida’s hard work to gain corporate, government, and community support, The Wall Las Memorias has erected the first AIDS monument in the country, and holds the single largest public gathering to commemorate World AIDS Day. Last December over 62,000 attended.  Currently, Ida has recently joined Cable Positive’s Southern California Chapter’s Board of Directors and was recently honored as a most valued sponsor by the Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team. 

As a leading regional advocate for AIDS awareness, Ida also works closely with the Latino Community as well as dedicating her time to multiple organizations including AIDS Walk LA, AIDS Walk Orange County, Project Angel Food, LA Shanti, and Smash Hits for World Team Tennis and the Elton John Aids Foundation to name a few.   Adelphia and community leaders are proud of Ida’s self-motivation to utilize the cable industry as a vehicle to take an active role in social change.

Finalists for the 2005 Brad Wojcoski Memorial Award are: Saydeah Howard of Turner Network Sales; Maura Kehoe of PK Network and Kevin Kilbride of Sundance Channel.

Cable Positive’s Brad Wojcoski Memorial Award was established in 1993 in honor of Brad Wojcoski, an employee of HBO and one of the original Board members of Cable Positive.  Nominations are submitted on behalf of the nominee by a peer and voted upon by Cable Positive’s Board of Directors. Past recipients include: Zelda Martens and Erica Stull, Adelphia Communications and Debbie Barackman, iN DEMAND (2004); Bobby Amirshahi, Cox Communications (2003); David Gale, MTV Films and Gwen Marcus, Showtime Networks Inc. (2002); Paul Braun, Time Warner Cable National Division (2001/2000); Charlie Moreno, AT&T Services (1999); Ibis Kaba, HBO (1998); Heather Smith, Media One (1997); Chicago Access Corporation (1996); Barbara Siegel, Showtime Networks, Inc. (1995); Dennis Mangers, CCTA (1994); and Viacom Cable San Francisco (1993).

ABOUT CABLE POSITIVE
Cable Positive is a national non-profit organization that was founded in February 1992 by three concerned cable executives with the mission of organizing cable's resources in the fight against AIDS. Cable Positive will mobilize the talents, resources, access and influence of the cable and telecommunications industry to raise HIV/AIDS awareness; support HIV/AIDS education, prevention and care; and strive to end stigma by creating a more compassionate climate for people whose lives have been affected by HIV or AIDS. Cable Positive has grown to include supporters from every major cable network, multiple system operator, cable system, hardware manufacturer, trade association, media publication, and affiliated industry vendors and suppliers. Since 1992, Cable Positive has raised more than $12 million in the fight against AIDS. For more information about Cable Positive, call 212.459.1502 or visit www.cablepositive.org.