Sheryl Lee Ralph

Sheryl Lee Ralph is one of today's most well-liked and recognizable celebrity faces. Nominated for the coveted Tony award for her role in the landmark Broadway musical Dreamgirls, Ms. Ralph starred in such feature films as The Distinguished Gentleman with Eddie Murphy, The Mighty Quinn with Denzel Washington, Mistress with Robert DeNiro, and Sister Act 2 with Whoopi Goldberg. Ms Ralph was honored by the Independent Spirit Award as Best Supporting Actress for her role in To Sleep with Anger with Danny Glover. She found immense popularity on TV starring in the hit UPN show Moesha with Brandy, and she can be seen currently in the Showtime series, Barbershop.

As the AIDS pandemic grew in the 1980s, Ms. Ralph, like many of us, lost a great number of friends to this devastating disease. Not content to sit on the sidelines and grieve, her care, compassion and commitment led her to use her considerable talents and connections to take action. In 1990, Ms. Ralph established the Diva Foundation and created DIVAS Simply Singing! as a loving memorial to those lost to HIV/AIDS. This inspirational event features a host of the most talented women in the entertainment business united in a benefit concert to continue the courageous battle against HIV/AIDS. Going into its sixteenth consecutive year, Ms. Ralph and her friends have come together to raise their voices in song and commitment to HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. Every cent of the millions raised through their efforts goes to help men, women, and children infected by HIV/AIDS.

As an AIDS activist and entertainer, her reach extends far beyond the Diva Foundation and DIVAS Simply Singing! Her award-winning short film, "Secrets" - starring Alfre Woodard, Robin Givens, Victoria Rowell and Ralph herself - screens to audiences around the world. Sometimes I Cry, her one-woman play about the loves, lives and losses of women infected and affected by AIDS, has played to national and international audiences to great acclaim. Ms. Ralph also sits on the boards of Project Angel Food, The Black AIDS Institute and is an official celebrity spokesperson for The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the challenges of HIV/AIDS in minority communities.

Ms. Ralph has a distinguished academic career as well. She holds the distinction of being the first female graduate of Rutgers College as well as its youngest graduate at age 19, a true credit to her determination and focus.

In addition to her accomplishments in the entertainment arena and philanthropic circles, she is dedicated to her family. Of all the roles she plays in life, Ms. Ralph proclaims the one she enjoys best is that of mother to her two children, ages 13 and 10, and wife to her husband, Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia.

The Serra Project proudly salutes Sheryl Lee Ralph for her tremendous work helping men, women and children who are battling HIV and AIDS and her tireless efforts to foster a greater understanding of the impact AIDS has on our community. Her work is a great source of hope and inspiration to us all.

For more information about Sheryl Lee Ralph, check out these links:

Sometimes I Cry

The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource

Divas Simply Singing