The AIDS
Foundation of Chicago announced Thursday that it has issued
$1.4 million in grants to area AIDS organizations and
programs during its just-completed one-year funding
cycle, the largest amount ever awarded by the agency.
The 12-month grant cycle ending on June 30 includes $653,000
in new awards for HIV prevention, care, advocacy,
evaluation, and capacity-building projects; $235,000
in renewal grants for the Chicago Housing for Health
Partnership; and $129,460 for the first year of a
partnership to improve access to food and nutritional counseling.
AFC also funded an array of special initiatives,
including $120,000 for a faith-based project in the
African-American community called Faith in Prevention.
Twelve churches and faith-based organizations received
$10,000 each to support prevention and outreach efforts that
reduce the impact of HIV on African-Americans. The
project was funded by a one-time grant to AFC from the
federal Office of Minority Health. AFC has committed
to provide partial funding to continue the project when
federal funds end this year.
"Church leaders have the opportunity to
play an important role in the fight against
HIV/AIDS," said the Reverend Doris Green,
AFC's director of community affairs.
"They are able to reach an audience that we
cannot--people who don't seek out HIV information. Through
sermons, ministries, and outreach, they are
demystifying the epidemic and providing messages of
prevention and hope."
AFC's board of directors honored grant
recipients on Thursday at a special recognition
breakfast at Chicago's Hyatt Regency Hotel. "The
Chicago area has fantastic organizations that do invaluable
HIV/AIDS work," said AFC's executive
director Mark Ishaug prior to the breakfast ceremony.
"We are proud to fund a greater number of these
agencies than ever before, especially as federal
funding for domestic AIDS programs continues to decline."
For a full list of grants awarded, go online to
www.aidschicago.org.