New SFAF Pilot Program Helps Agencies Raise Additional Funds

Contact: Roger Doughty, Executive Director Horizons Foundation 415.398.2333 x102

Contact: Redge Norton, Media Relations Manager San Francisco AIDS Foundation 415.487.3071

Date: June 30, 2005 For Immediate Release

 
SAN FRANCISCO - Horizons Foundation and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation have announced $447,500 in Community Grants to 45 community organizations working on HIV/AIDS issues around the San Francisco Bay Area. Funded by proceeds from the AIDS Foundation's 2005 AIDS Walk and AIDS Marathon events, these grants will support a wide range of services, prevention, and advocacy efforts. The 2005 grant total represents an increase of $25,500 over 2004.

"At a time when funding for so many vital HIV/AIDS programs is imperiled, we're very pleased to award these much-needed resources to outstanding organizations," said Roger Doughty, Executive Director of Horizons Foundation. "We're especially pleased that the total grant pool has actually grown, which is no small achievement in a difficult funding environment."

In addition to the grant awards, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation is piloting a new Community Partnership Program (CPP) to help small- and medium-sized HIV/AIDS nonprofits raise additional funds by recruiting new people to walk on their AIDS Walk teams. Under the CPP, 100% of the funds raised by these "new walkers" will be granted back to the agency with whose team they walk. Sixteen Bay Area HIV/AIDS organizations are participating in this year's pilot program.

"We are very pleased to be able to provide other HIV/AIDS organizations with the opportunity to raise additional funds to support critical HIV services and programs in our community," said Mark Cloutier, SFAF's Executive Director. "It's the AIDS Foundation's hope that the Community Partnership Program will help HIV/AIDS organizations raise more funds to do their work and encourage even more people to participate in this growing and vibrant community event." The San Francisco AIDS Walk will take place on July 17, 2005 in Golden Gate Park. Walkers can register at www.aidswalk.net/sanfran.

In determining recipients of the Community Grant awards, diverse panels of community members-at least half of whom are HIV-positive-evaluate proposals and make recommendations on which organizations should receive grant awards. The grantee organizations, which are located in San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, and Contra Costa counties, provide services such as health care for low-income clients, needle exchange, employment counseling, youth outreach programs, legal assistance, and linguistically and culturally appropriate HIV-prevention efforts to communities of color. The full list of awardees can be found at www.horizonsfoundation.org/page/organizations/cigrants.