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During a recent City of Wilton Manors commission meeting, Mayor Scott Newton presented Von Biggs, Community Engagement & Outreach Coordinator in the Community Health & Well-Being department at Holy Cross Health, with a proclamation declaring December 1, 2025 as World AIDS Day in the city.
Back row (left to right) Commissioner Don D’Arminio, Vice Mayor Chris Caputo, Commissioner Paul Rolli and Commissioner Mike Bracchi
Front Row (left to right) Von Biggs and Mayor Scott Newton
“Receiving this proclamation is an honor because it recognizes the voices and lives behind the work I do every day,” said Biggs. “It reflects a commitment to equity, education and advocacy for people living with HIV and those most impacted. For me, it is a reminder that visibility matters and that our community’s resilience deserves to be celebrated.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World AIDS Day was established in 1988 by two public information officers at the World Health Organization. Every year since on December 1, the day is dedicated to raising global awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of the HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease.
Because of antiretroviral treatments such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PreP) and Post- Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), Holy Cross Medical Group and other healthcare providers now have comprehensive tools to prevent new HIV infections. The development of programs such as the Ryan White CARE Act, which helps people with low-income access essential care and treatment, have greatly contributed to sustained health for those impacted by HIV/AIDS.
The 2025 World AIDS Day theme, “overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,” emphasized the need for a renewed and transformative approach to the global HIV/AIDS response. Mayor Newton encouraged Wilton Manors residents to participate in activities and observances designed to increase awareness and understanding of the virus as a global challenge and to join the global effort to prevent further spread and support those affected.
“As someone who lives with HIV, this is personal for me. I know the stigma, the silence and the strength it takes to thrive,” Biggs added. “Raising awareness is about breaking barriers and creating systems of care that treat people with dignity. Supporting those affected means ensuring no one feels alone and that everyone has access to the resources they need to live healthy, full lives.”
Open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Holy Cross Medical Group’s Wilton Manors office is led by Robert C. Gioia, DO, MHA, FAAFP, AAHIVS and Jason Alexander Ceavers, MD. Dr. Gioia was recently elected board chair of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM). The 2025 OutSFL Readers’ Choice Awards named Dr. Gioia the best doctor in Wilton Manors and Dr. Ceavers as runner up.
Located at 1402 NE 26th St., the Holy Cross Medical Group’s Wilton Manors office provides patients with access to preventative medicine, sexual health, LGBTQ+ health and HIV medicine. To schedule an appointment, call 954-565-7789 or visit holy-cross.com for more information.
ABOUT HOLY CROSS HEALTH
A member of Trinity Health, Fort Lauderdale-based Holy Cross Hospital, dba Holy Cross Health, is a full-service, not-for-profit, Catholic, teaching hospital operating in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy. Holy Cross has been recognized for six Types of Care in U.S. News and World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Hospital rankings, was named among the 2024 America’s Best-In-State Hospitals by Newsweek and selected as a Forbes America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals in 2025. Holy Cross has also been designated as a High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for LGBTQ+ health care access. Through strategic collaborations and a commitment to being a person-centered, transforming, healing presence, the 557-bed hospital offers progressive inpatient, outpatient and community outreach services and clinical research trials to serve as the community’s trusted health partner for life. Holy Cross Health also includes Holy Cross HealthPlex outpatient facility, urgent care centers and more than 40 Holy Cross Medical Group physician practices. To learn more about Holy Cross Health, visit holy-cross.com. Connect with Holy Cross Health on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
