SAN DIEGO, Calif., – In celebration of LGBT Pride Month and as part of its ongoing commitment to cultural diversity and responsible banking, Union Bank has partnered with KPBS to honor two remarkable individuals as local heroes. The 2015 LGBT Pride Month honorees are: Terry Cunningham, the chair of the HIV Health Services Planning Council for the County of San Diego and Christine Kehoe, LGBT community leader. They will be recognized in June at a private dinner celebration with their families and executives from KPBS and Union Bank.
Since 1998, KPBS and Union Bank have collaborated on the Local Heroes program and recognized more than 200 honorees. The program pays tribute to exemplary leaders who are making a difference and enriching the lives of others by improving their community, region and the world at large. The 2015 LGBT Pride Month honorees demonstrate a shared commitment to providing their communities with the tools to thrive in today’s changing world.
In addition to the LGBT Pride Month local heroes, honorees were identified during Black History Month (February); Women’s History Month (March); Jewish American Heritage Month (May); Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May) and will also be recognized during Hispanic Heritage Month (September/October); Disability Awareness Month (October); and American Indian Heritage Month (November).
“The contributions of each of the honorees have significantly impacted our communities,” said Pierre P. Habis, Head of Union Bank’s Consumer and Business Bank. “Their commitment and passion is inspiring, and we are proud to partner with KPBS to celebrate their accomplishments.”
“It is a privilege to join Union Bank in recognizing the 2015 LGBT local heroes,” said Tom Karlo, KPBS general manager. “Not only are these individuals improving the local LGBT community, but the San Diego community at large. We are pleased to highlight their service during LGBT Pride Month.
The 2015 honorees for LGBT Pride Month are:
Terry Cunningham is the chair of the HIV Health Services Planning Council for the County of San Diego. For more than 32 years, Mr. Cunningham has been focused on HIV/AIDS care, treatment and prevention. He has worked as a volunteer on the AIDS Hotline, director of the AIDS Assistance Fund and founder of the Ciaccio Memorial Clinic, the largest community provider of HIV services in San Diego. Most recently, he was the chief of the HIV, Sexually Transmitted Disease and Hepatitis Branch of Public Health Services of the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency. Mr. Cunningham has received numerous recognitions including the Humanitarian of the Year Award by the LGBT Center in San Diego. In 2014, Mr. Cunningham served as the chairman of the 18th Annual United States Conference on AIDS held in San Diego. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Kent State Univeristy and a master’s degree in organizational management from University of Phoenix.
In 1993, Christine Kehoe made history as the first LGBT candidate elected to the San Diego City Council, where she was successful in strengthening neighborhood services, funding programs for The Center and San Diegans living with AIDS. In 2000, Ms. Kehoe was elected Assemblywoman for 76th California Assembly district. During her tenure, she was appointed Speaker pro Tempore and was the founding chair of the LGBT Caucus, one of the first in the country. Following her two terms in the assembly, she was elected to serve two terms in the California Senate. Ms. Kehoe has held leadership positions in many community organizations including the Center for Women’s Studies and Services, the San Diego Gayzette, San Diego LGBT Pride, and the San Diego AIDS Assistance. Currently, she is the executive director of the California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative (PEVC), a public-private organization working to ensure a strong and enduring transition to clean electric vehicles in California.
KPBS features a wide range of programming during LGBT Pride Month (June). For more information or to nominate a future local hero, please visit: www.kpbs.org/heroes or unionbank.com/heroes.
