Maria Davis

Abstinence/Abstain Recommended

Webster/ oxford meaning:

1. Voluntary forbearance especially from indulgence of an appetite or craving

2. To refrain deliberately and often with effort of self-denial from an action or practice

Spokes person

In 1995 Maria's life took a turn, she contracted the HIV/AIDS virus, while in hospital near death she made a decision to devote her life to educating women, men and children about HIV/AIDS. "Noone should have to suffer the way I am if I can help them". Maria

Maria does not consider herself a victim, but an activist who speaks to thousands of people every year about HIV/AIDS awareness. She puts her convictions and her passion for life into action.She has participated every year, for the last seven years, in the rigorous 350 mile Boston to New York AIDS bicycle ride raising tens of thousands of dollars for AIDS research.

In addition to raising money for several HIV/AIDS organizations, she believes that volunteering her time in her own community is vital to communicating the message of AIDS awareness to people.
Maria maintains that being grateful and giving to others is the only true way to fight HIV/AIDS and that is why she is not afraid to be the media spokesperson for several organizations such as Life Beat: The Music Industry Fights HIV/AIDS, BET Rap it Up Community Service outreach, Mwana Ndi Mai and as the national spokesperson for World AIDS Day.

MARIA A. DAVIS is an HIV/AIDS activist
who is, very simply, a tour de force.
She speaks to thousands of people each
year, she is a figurehead uptown and
downtown, and dozens of Manhattan
organizations have benefited from her efforts.