Welcome to the Community Involvement Center

The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt

Since 1990, Rice University has periodically displayed panels of the The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. The Quilt is the largest on-going community arts project in the world. Each of the over 42,960 colorful panels in the Quilt was made to remember the life of a person lost to AIDS. Panels are 3 by 6 feet -- the size of a human grave. As the epidemic claims more lives, the Quilt continues to grow. The Quilt stands for more than the tens of thousands of people whose names are sewn into the fabric. It stands, as well, for the sorrow, anger, love and hope of people who make panels.

Information on the 2008 display to be announced in early fall 2008.

2007 AIDS Memorial Quilt Display
- General Information
- Sign Up to Volunteer - COMING SOON!
- Directions and Parking
  * Paid parking is available in the Central Campus Garage or North Lot (after 6:00pm). Free parking is available in the Greenbriar Lot and visitors may use the campus shuttle system to get to the Rice Memorial Center (RMC).
2005 AIDS Memorial Quilt Display
2004 AIDS Memorial Quilt Display
2002 AIDS Memorial Quilt Display

The Community Involvement Center, in conjunction with Sexual Health Awareness Week, sponsors the display of 100 panels in the RMC Grand Hall. In addition to the panels, there is also a Rice Signature Quilt, started in 1995, which joins the display each year. The Signature Quilt is a place for viewers to leave their comments and thoughts after visiting the Quilt. A new Rice Signature Quilt was started in 2001. Names of people who have died of AIDS and have a quilt in their memory are read continuously throughout the display by Rice volunteers.

Jesse Dickerman reads names during the 2001 display of people who have died of AIDS.

The 2001 AIDS Quilt Unfolders standing in front of the Rice Signature Quilt.

The 2001 AIDS Quilt Display Opening Ceremony involves 16 Rice Students Unfolding the four quilts on the floor.

Jerry and Delores McCall share their personal experience with AIDS, during the 2001 display. Since the first display at Rice, Jerry and Delores McCall, volunteers with The Names Project who lost their son to AIDS, travel to Rice to coordinate the display, share their experiences, and educate the campus about the epidemic. Unfortunately, Jerry and Delores McCall have retired from volunteering with the NAMES Project. They will be greatly missed, but Rice will continue to have a display each year. In addition to the Quilt's display, the Community Involvement Center organizes a food and toiletries drive benefiting local AIDS hospices and a campus-wide red ribbon distribution. The annual display is a campus-wide effort as more than 100 volunteers are needed to monitor the Quilt and more than 100 name readers participate. 750 visitors viewed the quilts during the 2001 three-day display.

12x12 block with 8 individual quilts from the 2001 display.

The Quilt's display is financially sponsored by several student organizations, residential colleges, and Departments within the Division of Student Affairs.