Meet our Founder

Martie Gillin

Martie Gillin is an award-winning and nationally acclaimed speaker, non-profit leader, and founder of AIDS Alive Inc. and its signature program SpeakUp! — powerful movements that promote communications, education, and awareness about the issues facing today’s youth.  Outreach efforts that include interactive events, nationwide media coverage, and highly commended advocacy work have reached over 150,000 urban and suburban youth, educators, and parents at 250+ schools and community organizations.

AIDS ALIVE

Martie began an AIDS awareness campaign in 1994 to continue her son’s mission of bringing hope to those with HIV/AIDS—and sought to raise awareness about the disease by bringing education and prevention programs to schools and organizations.  Over the next five years, the AIDS Alive organization discovered that HIV/AIDS was just one of several critical issues—and that the solution was to bridge the communication gap between youth, educators, and parents.

SPEAK UP!

She followed up AIDS Alive with the hands-on SpeakUp! to directly improve communication between generations—and to build the foundation for a lifetime of positive communication.  SpeakUp! forums foster productive dialogue at home, school, and within the community—and give kids the skills, opportunity, and support to be heard and deal with difficult issues of the day.  SpeakUp! enables youth to make positive life choices—and parents and educators to support them—as they navigate the journey to become happy, confident adults.

Under Martie’s inspirational leadership AIDS Alive and SpeakUp! continue to refine their strategies—

adapting as needed to accomplish their missions efficiently and effectively with heart and soul!

MEDIA COVERAGE

-         Good Morning America
-         Host of “Coming to Terms”
-         CN8 The Comcast Network
-         Good Day Philadelphia
-         New Orleans TV News
-         Mademoiselle
-         Catholic Digest Magazine
-         Catholic Standard and Times
-         Main Line Life
-         Philadelphia Inquire
-         Suburban Wayne Times
-         PBS Special “Mothers March”
-         KYW Radio
-         Fox TV News
-         Channel 6 News
-         “Womanly Wise”
-         Main Line Times

AWARDS

University of Notre Dame “Women of Distinction” Award, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital Humanitarian, St. Francis Country House Award, Maynooth College-Ireland Award, The Catherine McAuley  Award,  Philadelphia Eagles “Fly for Leukemia Award,” The Holy Child Cornelia Connelly Award, The Visiting Nurses Caring Huntington’s Disease Society of America Award, Catholic Youth Organization Award.

COMMUNITY BOARD MEMBERSHIPS

Siloam

AIDS Alive Inc.

Melmark Home Inc.

St. Edmond’s Home for Disabled Children