International relief work is not new to the actress. In August of 2002, Alyssa hosted a photography exhibition and auction in Los Angeles to raise money for charitable efforts in South Africa. An avid photographer, Alyssa displayed her own work, as well as that of school children from L.A. s Venice Arts program. The event raised close to $50,000 for Nkosis Haven, an organization that runs care centers in South Africa for AIDS-afflicted mothers and children. For her efforts, Alyssa was honored with a humanitarian award from Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations. It was this work that got the attention of UNICEF executives. The Global Network for Neglected Tropical Disease Control (GNNTDC), an alliance of international partnerships based at the Sabin Vaccine Institute in Washington D.C. and formalized by the Clinton Global Initiativeto lead the global effort to treat, control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the worlds poorest countries recently named Milano the organization’s founding ambassador. In this role, Milano will work to raise awareness of GNNTDC and NTDs among the mainstream media and with the general public. The John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint Johns Hospital and Health Center and the Associates of Breast & Prostate Cancer Studies presented Alyssa with the Spirit of Hollywood Award in 2004, which honors individuals from the entertainment industry for their personal dedication and commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others. Alyssa also attended the 2004 Democratic National Convention on behalf of the Creative Coalition and is an avid supporter of MTVs Rock the Vote campaign.