Mayor attends auction for Zimbabwe AIDS relief
(May 23, 2008)

Mayor Potter attended a fundraising event on Thursday (5/22) at City Hall to raise money to fight AIDS in Zimbabwe.

The event was organized by the Portland-Mutare Sister City Association (PMSCA) as part of its Africa AIDS Response program. Mayor Potter was joined by medical professionals, students and teachers who will be traveling to Zimbabwe in September with the PMSCA to bring medical, educational and social support to those affected by HIV/AIDS. It will be the first time a Portland Mayor has traveled to Mutare as part of the Sister City relationship to help with humanitarian efforts.

"During this time of incredible challenges within Zimbabwe, PMSCA is dedicated to continuing our citizen-to-citizen work, and supporting the humanitarian and community building efforts with the people of Mutare we have come to know well," said Maria Kosmetatos, FNP and President of PMSCA. "PMSCA is proud to announce that we are sending a delegation of Portland citizens to Mutare to continue the goodwill and collaboration that we began seventeen years ago. Having our Mayor visit sends a strong signal about Portland's commitment to strengthening our citizen-to-citizen work."

Mutare is Portland's only African Sister City, and one of nine Sister City organizations in Portland. Additional information is available at www.africaaidsresponse.org.


Tom Potter in Zimbabwe