Fred Says gives $50,000 to organizations working with HIV+ youth around the U.S

Fri. December 18, 2015 7:46 AM

Fred Says is will be making their largest gift ever, including $10,000 to help open Atlanta’s first LGBT youth homeless shelter

Chicago, IL - The mission of Fred Says is to generate funding to support HIV-youth programs in order to be better funded. And after two-years of building the organization, Fred Says is finally at a point where we can fulfill that goal.

This year, the charity will be gifting $50,000 across the United State of America to organizations supporting HIV+ youth, with (2) large 'impact grants' at $10,000 going to Test Positive Awareness Network, Chicago, and Lost-and-Found, Atlanta.

The money is being gifted to provide fiscal support for any advocacy going on that helps educated the public about the needs of young people at risk for HIV, to help cover costs associated with running direct services for HIV+ youth, or other areas cited as in need of support by organizations

Agencies receiving gifts of $1,000 to $10,000 are:

·         Advocates for Youth, Washington D.C, to support their National Youth HIV/AIDS Day on April 10th, which raises awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS on youth.

·         Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, to support their Special Infectious Diseases program where they treat pediatric HIV/AIDS patients.

·         Bay Area Young Positives to support case management of HIV+ young people accessing services. 

·         Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, to establish a one-time application based emergency assistance program for youth impacted by HIV/AIDS.

·         Callen-Lorde's Health Outreach to Teens (HOTT), New York City, program, which targets homeless and unstably housed youth across New York City who are at risk of acquiring HIV.

·         Lost-and-Found, Atlanta, to ensure the opening of the city's first LGBT youth homeless shelter. 

·         The LGBT Center, New York City, help fund the annual LGBT Youth Leadership Camp, specifically the HIV-education arm.  

·         Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN), Chicago, to provide financial resources needed to lessen any identified gaps in services not covered by current grants.

·         St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital Adolescent HIV Program, Memphis, use monies to further efforts to engage and empower the youth served in the HIV-clinic.

·         POZ Magazine, New York City,  each year the magazine will received scholarship money that will be given to (1) person under 25 who is included in their POZ 100 list of HIV+ people doing amazing work around the world.

This year marks the second yearly giving to organizations in Chicago and beyond. Fred Says aims to continue giving to youth programs within a climate where HIV-funding is on the decline, because we believe money raised throughout the year is essential to many when needing to fill gaps that many agencies are experiencing.

"This award will help us make our community more aware of the issues [of LGBT homelessness]," said Brad Thorton, one of the leaders in Atlanta doing grassroots work to open the Lost-and-Found shelter. "It will allow us to get all the correct information and help to the right people."

"Lastly it will help us get more education for our staff and clients," he continued.

At Children's Hospital Los Angeles, the money isn't just about healthcare; it's about young people's lives outside of a clinical setting.

"This amazing funding will be used to help support our adolescents and young adults with HIV with life issues that go beyond healthcare," says Marvin Belzer, Director of Adolescent Medicine.

"They may need some help when moving into their first apartment, like a bed or small fridge, maybe a book for school or the costs of replacing an ID card or birth certificate. These small gifts can be instrumental in helping our patients get past tough parts of their lives and make it easier for them to concentrate on their health."

Also, for the first time ever the organization has partnered with POZ Magazine's annual list called POZ 100 that highlights HIV-positive people doing amazing work. A $1000 scholarship will be given to a young person on their list.

Fred Says announces annual gifts in December of each year in celebration World AIDS month globally. This is the largest gift to date the organization has made since being founded.
 

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