His Legacy

Ryan White's actions not only helped himself, but many other people. His legacy includes the Ryan White Care Act and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services made the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, named after Ryan. The programs help people struggling with AIDS and HIV all over the world. They make sure that people can get the best medical treatment possible.

"It would have been easy for Ryan and his family to stay quiet and to fight the illness in private. But what Ryan showed was the same courage and strength that so many HIV-positive activists have shown over the years and shown around -- show around the world today. And because he did, we didn't just become more informed about HIV/AIDS, we began to take action to fight it."

- President Obama, announcing the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 , October 30, 2009

Moreover, White broke barriers beyond the world of AIDS. He brought awareness to how the national blood supply needed to be fixed so donations would be tested for HIV. Since blood started to be scanned in 1991, and every year 4.5 million Americans need blood transfusions, that is about 130.5 million people whose lives have been improved by White.

   "The biggest contribution I think that Ryan made is, and I didn't know it at that time, that his legacy would be that people are getting their drugs and their treatment and that people are living with AIDS."

- Jeanne White-Ginder, talking about her son's struggle with AIDS, date unknown 

Ryan White truly broke barriers in many ways. His bravery when deciding to stand up for himself and others is inspiring. He proves that anyone can change the world we live in for the better. He has taught us to be brave, take a stand, and above all, that a single person can make a change.

"When the media heralded you as an "innocent victim" because you had contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion, you rejected that label and stood in solidarity with thousands of HIV-positive women and men. You reminded America that all victims of AIDS are innocent."

- Elton John, explaining how Ryan stood up against discrimination not only for himself, but for all with AIDS, April 25, 2010