Wyclef Jean presents Bill Roedy with Youth AIDS Corporate Citizenship Award
Wyclef Jean honored Bill Roedy at the 2005 MTV Networks International Youth Aids Global Launch Dinner with a moving speech before presenting him with the Youth AIDS Corporate Citizenship Award:
How you all doing? I feel like the President of the United States. The reason why is because, you know, I was brought to speak (on Bill Roedy) and the President is usually prepped on his speech, so what I'll do is I'll follow the speech and then I'll tell you how I feel about Bill Roedy personally.
When it comes to the fight against AIDS, no one has made it more cool ... ok, the word 'cool', we don't use that no more in street terminology... We say no one is more like my 'fam', 'fam' for family... alright cool… you feel me
When it comes to the fight against AIDS, no one has made it more like my fam to be part of the battle than my homey Bill Roedy has. As President of MTV Networks International, Bill has leveraged the enormous global reach of MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1 and a host of other channels and websites to encourage people everywhere to join the fight against AIDS. Under his direction, MTV Networks International has increased awareness of our complacency here and abroad with HIV and AIDS related programming. His network has also produced award-winning documentaries and public service announcements and made them available to broadcasters around the world at no cost.
Through these efforts, Bill and MTV Networks International have lessened the stigma attached to HIV and AIDS. They have also educated an estimated 1 billion people about the need to take a stand.
Bill is an ambassador for the joint United Nations programme on HIV and AIDS and he has served as chairman of the global business coalition on HIV and AIDS. For all that and much more, hold on, this is getting weak, whoever wrote this man, you got me sounding corn bread right now, I ain't feeling this now. Let me break it this my way man...
Real quick, let me see, I was sitting down here, playing with Bill Roedy's name and I was spelling it out just sitting in my seat, and I think…
'B' stands for 'brotherhood', you know you give me that sense of brotherhood; the 'I stands for like 'inner peace' because it's like when I shake your hand I feel the vibe and the inner peace.
I feel the reason there are two L's in your name is because God didn't want to say Love" one time, I think he wanted to say it twice: 'love, love'. I gotta remember the rest of them man.
And then, yeah, the 'R' stands for 'real' cause you're a real individual, not just, you don't just say it, I can feel it when I feel your energy.
The 'O' stands for 'one', because that's the number you'll always be, the most powerful number.
The 'E' stands for 'eternity", because long after you're gone you'll live for eternity.
The 'D' stands for 'Dad" because even though you're White and stuff and I'm black, I feel like somewhat I'm your adopted son because I ain't got my dad no more.
And the 'Y' stands for 'years' ... may the Lord guide you through many more years and may you live forever.
And now we'll go back to the corn bread speech:
For all of that and much more I am proud to present the Youth AIDS Corporate Citizenship Award and original design by artist Karin Rashid to MTV Networks International, ok I see they're clapping for you baby, and before I say my good friend, someone added something to this... as well a special bottle and great bottle of champagne Veuve Clicquot... je parles un petit peu de francais parce que j'y suis ne/je suis nice?... to MTV Networks International, please everybody please stand up and help me welcome my good friend, Bill Roedy.
