Jeanne White Ginder, mother of Ryan White, native Hoosier and special assistant to RCAP senior director, was awarded the Indiana University Bicentennial Medal virtually on February 25, 2021. The Bicentennial Medal is awarded to organizations and individuals who, through their personal, professional, artistic, or philanthropic efforts, have broadened the reach of Indiana University around the state, nation, and world. Ryan had an enormous presence, and that presence continues through Jeanne who through her presentations inspires people by sharing Ryan's messages and her story as a mother.
Description of the video:
I'm going to go ahead and share my screen now. I want to give a welcome here. And so we could start with that. Okay. So yeah. Well, I was going to say my name is Bill Yarborough. I think most of you know that. And remember, I'm the Senior Director of the Center for aids, STD prevention and Provost professor in the School of Public Health here in Bloomington. We are gathered here tonight to honor Judy white, gender, the mother, Ryan White, and an eighth. Sure. And thank you for telling attending the celebration. It's great seeing all of you and we're so excited that we can meet together tonight to celebrate and rejoice. This event is sponsored by the School of Public Health in Bloomington and also the Role Center for aids, STD prevention. And we're pleased to have among us tonight to former recipients of the Ryan White Distinguished Leadership Award that Ralph DiClemente, could you raise your hand, Ralph? And welcome. And then Dr. Will cook. Who's from Austin. Did you say hi and thanks for both of you for being here on Earth. Before we begin the program, we would like to watch this brief video. The mother of Ryan White, Jeannie White, gender realized that her son, who had died of aids and 990 had galvanize a nation. And she is. So we others realize the difference that one person can make. She do that. He helped people understand what they did not want to understand. And from this, she pledge herself actually would carry on the legacy of her son. So on august 990, she joined the lecture circuit, realizing that she is not that eloquent speaker. She simply woman to share with others and educating people about aids and share Ryan's messages of compassion and support. Persons with aids. Every time she speaks to a group. She touches the heart of those who listen. I know many of you. I didn't have to tell you that tonight because you've band that the Ryan White awarding ceremonies. And so you know what I'm speaking of? The Ryan White Distinguished Leadership Award was created in 2009 to honor Ryan White, as well as those who have made significant national and international achievements and HIV AIDS prevention. When one looks for persons who meet that criteria, two of those are here tonight. Genies name immediately comes forward, make them better, reflects the spirit of Ryan and gt. There had been 13 well deserving recipients of the award and deservedly so genie was the first recipient. Since the beginning of the Ryan White award ceremony, GD has always been a major part of recognizing the outstanding individuals. After every event. I received numerous communications from persons who say how much they are impacted by her messages. Genie says her memories ever son and their struggles remain fresh in her mind. Yet it is still therapeutic for her to talk about her son's life. In a 30-year sense, Ryan died. Jenny has remained an advocate for the HIV aids community and to this day, she takes her story on the road. And now by Zoom to inspire people. Throughout the country and the world by sharing Ryan's messages and her story. As a mother. We all know Ryan was not able to fulfill his dream of attending Indiana University Bloomington. But Genie, please know how much you hold you in high esteem and high admiration. And that the School of Public Health and Bloomington and a real Center for aids, STD prevention takes great pleasure in presenting to you at Indiana University by Centennial medal. Next, I'm pleased to invite Dr. David Allison, Dean of the School of Public Health Bloomington, who will describe the significance of the IU bicentennial nettle. Thank you, bill. It is truly a privilege to be in this intimate and equally esteemed group of people. You know, and I think about the people that I'm interacting with this evening to other people who are not here with us physically, but whose presence I think is deeply felt. That includes Ryan, of course, and president Mc lobby, the issuer of these metals. I am struck by standing among giant spirit. When I stand next to Eric Walsh, I'm Bill Yarborough. I'm struck by their stature. Much taller than may have to look up to them. But everybody on this call, someone I can look up to people that are being honored, had been honored. I think what would I do in such and such situation? And I don't know, sometimes I behave well, sometimes I behave poorly. Sometimes I brave, sometimes I'm cowardly, sometimes I'm Petty, sometimes I'm magnanimous. I always hope for the best and try to better each time. And I look around and I think, look, Ralph DiClemente. And I remember listening to his presentation and I said to myself, you know, I've accomplished a lot as a researcher, but by gosh, I really wish I had accomplished some of the things that Ralph DiClemente accomplish because it made a difference in the world. He not only did good science, but he did good science that save lives. We know all the names of the people whose lives were saved by Ralph DiClemente. But I assured Ralph DiClemente save lives. And he put that first before showing how smart he was. That was amazing. And so I'm humbled by that. I look at would be Cook. And I listened and I thought, How would I have stayed in that community when he stayed in our community? Or what I have said, Hey, listen, this is just my problem. Why should it be my problem? Let it be somebody else's problem. If the community doesn't want to stand up and own it, if the state doesn't stand out at all, why shouldn't all be on my shoulders? I'm going to Miami Beach and open up a clinic for rich people and be in the Sunstein and make some money. I don't need to stay here and cold, windy, Indiana? Or would I have had the courage he had to stay? I don't know. But I admire courage. I look at Build Your burns, funded these things himself. And I think what I have that generosity will when it's my time with my kids who? College. I'm a little further in my life and career. Well, I had that generosity that Bill has. I don't know. We'll see. But I look up to that. And I look at Robbie and his vision. And I hope that I visually but I say Can I see as far as he has seen and he saw how to build IU and he did. And this bicentennial medallion built out of the church bells of our old power reflects his vision. And I have great admiration. And never got to meet rhyme. But I've heard amazing things. Brian and gt themselves. This idea of greatness. And what's striking about it is they didn't ask for this greatness. They didn't go to school. So they can have this job. Jenny, Why can they didn't go to school? So she could be a speaker of this shin audition or interesting campaign for Shin, asked for life, thrust this upon her. Life, thrusted upon crime. Somebody once said to me, It's not the good and bad things that happen to us, that the finance. It's how we stand up when bad things happen that define us, that make us special and who we are. And there's little obtain. Some have, some are born to greatness, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Genie didn't ask for the opportunity to be great. I'm sure genie didn't want this opportunity to be great, but gave Genie this up to me to be great. At genie has been great and I'm sure it's a great, it's that hasn't been fun. Winning the Oscars. This is not the Grammy Award. This is not winning the Heisman trophy, but this is stepping up to where you are needed. Most stepping up to take care of your loved ones can tell other people take care of their loved ones to turn your tragedy into somebody else's benefit. To offer your tragedy while for yourself in a moment of tragedy to the world to be better, to help others. That's what you need done. And I can imagine operate attribute to humanity. So I feel like here I am among a cadre of people rose, I am a cone, a cadre of superheroes. I have gotten to stick a month ventures in each person has their extraordinary talent. Ralph DiClemente is ability to do research that saves lives. William Cooke, his bravery to stay in Server community. Billy order his generosity to acknowledge and others, president like Robbie, Vision, Engineer, or ability to stand up and tragedy into benefits for humanity. So I salute you all, especially leucine who were here too soon with the biosynthetic metal. Thank you for the privilege of being part of this bicentennial. Metal acknowledges the best in the brain and the brightest, the most extraordinary contributions when the world. And nobody is more deserving. And G. It'll I turn it back to you soon. Thank you, Dana also for those comments. Much appreciated. We would like for GD to get the box in which the metal and letter certificate is there and a L'Hopital up so that we can see what all of that looks like. So hopefully we can get Genie, genie on the screen. There's an Indiana University by sanding. It, touched about honoring, distinguishing what the metal is. Fourth, I have a ladder here from Michael Mike Robbie. I'm here, which I have not looked at yet. Oh my gosh. Let's just print the value, Sal. Thank you for hanging out there. Can you see? Yeah. One of the bells in a tower that burned down on I use campus or the original tower of I think Peter can help me or somebody that was originally the eye you set seminary when it started. Is that right? Peter and I got the right IN OUT and if a student building. Building, Thank you. Yeah. Hey, Billy Garber would have a lot of memories and I'd be built around doing that. Yes. They've been a long time about the up. Yeah. It was that it was stupid building a one time it was women's physical education. That was a jab in that building and its iconic because of its structure and the bell and Nia clock there that after, during electric dorm it caught on fire and burned down and so much loved that building and it's beating the they were able to quickly to raise enough money to rebuild it. And I remember going to that ceremony. So you should have the metal will take us. We're showing that had been yeah. What is that? Your university on the outside? Class a classy. Any any university bicentennial mental prison, it gives you new, I think they're giving during the bicentennial, sell it at celebratory year in recognition of your distinguished and distinctive service and support the mission of Indiana University. And I couldn't be more proud. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. The Very nice. So if you have comments, would you like to lead us into toast? Be now listen. So I would truly be my pleasure. Okay? So I want to make and get the greatness the giants that I am surrounded by and look up to, to the selfless acumen and lifesaving impact. Of Ralph DiClemente to the courage and selfless sacrifice of William Cooke, to the generosity in promoting others of Billy Arbor, to the vision of President michael make Robbie, to the memory of Ryan White. And most especially to the courage and selfless sacrifice, to the humanitarian outreach, to the feeling of brotherhood and sisterhood that genie brings to the table for kerning tragedy into the opportunity to help others. Seeing up to that opportunity. Jeannie, I salute you. Thinking. So Janie, we invite you to to make some remarks or comments. Okay. Well, I went to thank everybody. I can not be more proud to be a part of. I just feel like, I mean, I don't think I've ever felt like I was smart enough to go to college or anything. And just to be able to be recognized by IU. And Ryan was such a trooper. I mean, he loved IU. He just couldn't wait to go to IU and just be in a part now. I you and me and a part of everybody, all the work that everybody's status, you know, it's it's all of us together. It's not just me. It's bill. You have done amazing work with our cap and I've been very, very proud to be a part of our CAP and be part of IU. I, you know, I think Brian's pat me on the back. Really. I'm like, No, you don't. But, but but so but thank you so much for this bicentennial award. It, you know, it's it's very meaningful to me to be a part of IU. I just, I, I really can't stress that enough. It's very heartwarming and thank you for thinking of me. You know, I'm just a mom, but it shows that people can make a difference and just follow your heart. Can everybody can make him make a difference in your heart if you know what you're doing is right and it can't be wrong. I remember thinking I don't want to go through without asking Ryan. I don't know. And I always tell me to keep up and that mom everything's not be okay set. I feel like he's not taking care of me and even through IU, Ryan is staying alive. Thank you. Thank you very, very much. But we'll see Judy touching touching comments. We're proud of you and let you part of our cap at Yale University. And also, I would like now to invite others who no one, Janie to either work or our annual event of the Ryan White Award to make some comments. A Janie, thank you so much for your inspiration. And the grown up in Indiana. Think I told you before I was born a day apart from rioted. So you've inspired me growing up and to be able to carry on the work that he started by making sure that people that have been marginalized and stigmatized and not for even people wanting to touch them or allow them to be a part of the community, to be able to honor his memory by insisting that they be treated like a person. Valid number of our community means a lot to me and getting to know you has meant a lot to me. So I really thank you for everything that you do. The stories that you tell inspire people like me to do the work that we do. And I just want to thank you again for, for your inspiration and your presence. While we're all a team and thanks for being on the team. Will Jeannie real know each other very well revolting move that one told him. But that would toy was enough for me to recognize the truly fabulous spirit rioted you have been doing so much that you've been the catalyst for not only change in medical policy and procedures, but you've also been the catalyst for letting people know that HIV is a social condition, is even more suited and medical condition. So thank you for speaking, you thank you for your continued efforts. And I'm an honorary IU person. So thanks again, Julie. Thank you, darling. Yeah. Thank you for being supported by me. As we continue to fight to eliminate HIV aids around the world. We must never forget all those who are currently living with HIV AIDS. And make sure we do all that we can to help them experience a long and productive life that you've done. Cheating. And you know what? When people listen to you, they become hopeful. How thrilled I and those here, tonight. To be celebrating with you the awarding of the IU by Centennial medal. We're proud of you and I'm thankful. We are thankful for what you've done and continue to do to be sure that client's legacy endures. Janie, you're a gift to humanity. I will end this with a quote from Ryan about his mother. Ryan said, aids can do story a family if you lead it. But luckily for my sister and me, mom taught us to keep going. Don't give up. Be proud of who you are, and never feel sorry for yourself. Congratulations again. Janie. Proud of you. Thank you for all of your work. Thanks for all of you attending this special event tonight. And best wishes. You. God bless Judy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. I'm actually lessons genie. Let's thank you. Thank you very much. Nicer. He's tab. The pleasure is all ours at Indiana University. I go. I you graduated? Yeah. That's a good way. So that ends our celebration tonight. Thank you for attending and congratulations again. Gratz, GMI. Thank you, everybody. They will, everyone. Yeah. You're welcome. Goodbye.