Press Releases for H.R. 1242 Resilience Project
Media Coverage
Queens Man Returns from Historic Visit to Vatican
New York City, New York (December 10, 2021) Houston Style - Don Victor Mooney of Queens, New York concludes a three-day visit to Raliegh, North Carolina after an historic audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican on World AIDS Day.
In Rome, Italy, Mooney met with the American, Polish, and Portugal diplomats accredited to the Holy See. After meeting with Pope Francis, Mooney had a second audience with Cardinal Turkson, the first Ghanaian Cardinal, to be first Prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development.
"We stand on the shoulders of so many people. I didn't see my trip to the Vatican as a victory lap, but a testimony of faith, said Don Victor Mooney"
Black Catholic, first African American to cross the Atlantic, invited to Vatican for World AIDS Day
New York City, New York (Nov. 23, 2021) Black Catholic Messenger - Don Victor Mooney, a Black Catholic HIV/AIDS activist in NYC and the first African American to sail solo across the Atlantic, has been invited to the pope’s general audience on December 1st.
The date, also World AIDS Day, will mark the 17th anniversary of Mooney receiving a blessing from Pope St John Paul II for his first voyage attempt.
Black Catholic rower, first African American to cross the Atlantic, to feature in NYC Columbus Day Parade
New York, New York (October 10, 2021) Black Catholic Messenger -
Don Victor Mooney, an NYC-based HIV/AIDS activist known for sailing the Atlantic from Africa to Brooklyn, will be featured in tomorrow’s annual Columbus Day Parade in the Big Apple.
Now in its 77th year—and in-person for the first time since the onset of the pandemic—the annual event celebrating Italian culture runs on 5th Avenue in Manhattan and features marching bands, floats, groups, and public figures.
Among them this year is Mooney, a devout Black Catholic who received a papal blessing from Pope St John Paul II in 2004 before his first attempt at the daunting oceanic feat.
Africa to Brooklyn rower invited to New York City Columbus Day Parade
New York, New York (October 10, 2021) Bajan Reporter - He didn’t sail the Niña, Pinta, or Santa María. On his 4th try, Don Victor Mooney, of Kew Gardens Hills, President of H.R. 1242 Resilience Project departed from Maspalomas, Canary Islands, an archipelago located off the coast of West Africa. Twenty-one months later, he arrived at New York’s Brooklyn Bridge aboard Spirit of Malabo by rowboat, a first for an African American.
Before departing, Mooney toured Casa Museo de Colón in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, where he found great interest in Christopher Columbus navigational charts. The Columbus Citizens Foundation a longtime supporter of Mooney’s effort to row across the Atlantic Ocean, has invited him to walk in the largest celebration of Italian American heritage and culture in the United States.
Bermuda gets special delivery from US Open
Flushing , New York (South Florida Caribbean News) September 6, 2021 - He had his eyes focused on landing in Bermuda, but his rowboat sank shortly after setting off from Cape Verde in 2011. He survived 14 days on a life raft before being rescued in open water. On his fourth try, he completed his dream of rowing from Africa to Brooklyn (New York) for AIDS awareness, a first for an African American.
Now, Don Victor Mooney, of Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, President of H.R. 1242 Resilience Project, is collecting tennis rackets, balls, and school supplies for children during the US Open.
What Arthur Ashe Means...
Flushing, New York (WPIX) September 4, 2021 - At the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center, Don Victor Mooney, President of H.R. 1242 Resilience Project tells PIX News what Arthur Ashe Means to him. In three words, the transatlantic rower said, "Never Give Up."
H.R. 1242 Resilience Project campaign to collect tennis rackets, bags, and school supplies are underway. The initiative called, Operation Arthur Ashe, is in memory of the legendary tennis player who overcame gigantic hurdles to reach his dream.
Arthur Ashe’s fight against AIDS remembered at prayer vigil ahead of U.S. Open
Flushing, New York (WPIX) August 29, 2021 - On National Faith HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, there was a prayer service held at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to remember one of the greats of the game, Arthur Ashe, who died of AIDS-related pneumonia in 1993 at age 49.
Ashe was the first Black tennis player to win singles titles at the U.S. Open, the Australian open and Wimbledon. It is believed he contracted HIV from a blood transfusion during surgery in 1983 and, for the next decade, he was an AIDS activist.
Djokovic, Serena Williams serán honrados con premio especial antes de US Open 2021
Flushing, New York (Tennis World) August 24, 2021 - Durante estos tiempos difíciles, los tenistas han trabajado duro dentro y fuera de la cancha. Han cuidado de la comunidad y han brindado apoyo en todo lo que pudieron. Novak Djokovic , Serena Williams y Naomi Osaka serán honrados con el premio inaugural Arthur Ashe Never Give Up Award del HR 1242 Resilience Project al margen del US Open 2021.
La entereza y la compasión se han tomado como base para elegir a los merecedores de este premio. El premio Arthur Ashe Never Give Up se inaugura en el US Open. Lleva el nombre del tenista estadounidense Arthur Ashe.
En lugar de que el US Open cancele el Arthur Ashe Day este año, HR 1242 Resilience Project espera mantener el legado de Arthur Ashe relevante en estos tiempos desafiantes. Arthur había fundado la Fundación Arthur Ashe para la Derrota del SIDA y también el Instituto Arthur Ashe para la Salud Urbana antes de su muerte.
Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka to Be Honored a Special Award Ahead of US Open 2021
Flushing, New York (Essentially Sports) August 23, 2021 - During these tough times, tennis players have worked hard on and off the court. They have looked after the community and have provided support however they could.
Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and Naomi Osaka are being honored with the inaugural Arthur Ashe Never Give Up Award from the H.R. 1242 Resilience Project on the sidelines of the 2021 US Open. Fortitude and compassion have been taken as a basis for choosing those worthy of this award.
The Arthur Ashe Never Give Up Award is being inaugurated in the US Open. It is named after the American tennis player Arthur Ashe. In lieu of the US Open canceling Arthur Ashe Day this year, H.R. 1242 Resilience Project, hopes to keep Arthur Ashe’s legacy relevant in these challenging times.
Serving Up Tennis and Education
Kew Gardens Hills, New York (NY 1) August 18, 2021 - A Queen's man who was inspired by a trailblazing athlete is now hoping to inspire children to succeed both on and off the tennis court. Don Victor Mooney is hoping to distribute tennis and school supplies to 2021 children during the U S open this year.
The Kew gardens Hills resident is planning a city wide distribution and lieu of Arthur Ashe kids day, which was canceled this year because of the pandemic. Ashe was the first black man to win the us open and was a children's education champion .
Queens Man Brings Arthur Ashe Day Back to U.S. Open
Flushing, New York (Ghana News) August 17, 2021 - In lieu of U.S. Open cancelling Arthur Ashe Day due to COVID-19, Don Victor Mooney of Kew Gardens Hills and President of H.R. 1242 Resilience Project, hopes to keep Arthur Ashe legacy relevant in these challenging times.
Arthur Ashe advocated the power of education. In Richmond, Virginia, a bronze statue depicts him surrounded by children, holding a racket in one hand and books even higher in the other.
Children across the world have been impacted by the ongoing COVID pandemic and now Delta Variant. More than ever, we need to advocate and share the spirit to never give up. That’s why we are asking manufacturers and retailers to donate tennis bags, balls, rackets, and school supplies that we can distribute to 2021 children in New York City, across the nation and worldwide, says Don Victor Mooney, President of H.R. 1242 Resilience Project.
Arthur Ashe was the first black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team and the only black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, U.S. Open, and the Australian Open. The award symbolized Arthur Ashe’s resilience and humanitarianism, particularly against AIDS.