AIDS Foundation of Chicago Announces
More than $1.2 Million in Grant Awards
Funds Support Nation's First Housing Partnership for Chronically Ill Homeless

CHICAGO - The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) announced today the award of $1.237 million in grant funding to 61 agencies to support an array of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, advocacy, evaluation, and capacity-building projects.

"We are proud to assist local efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS," said AFC's Executive Director Mark Ishaug. "AFC's private grants assure the continuation of critical programs for those affected by HIV/AIDS."

AFC's Board of Directors honored grant recipients on Thursday, July 8, 2004 at a special recognition breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

AFC granted $428,847 to agencies participating in AFC's Chicago Housing for Health Partnership (CCHP). The first of its kind in the nation, CHHP will help homeless people with HIV, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions improve their health and achieve housing stability. Funds will be used to support research activities and to provide permanent housing and supportive healthcare services.

"We hope to find conclusive evidence that stable housing improves the health of people with chronic illnesses," said Arturo Valdivia-Bendixen, AFC's Housing Director and CHHP coordinator. "This supportive grant will provide housing for hundreds of Chicago-area homeless individuals with HIV and other chronic conditions, and could have far-reaching implications for the future development of supportive housing services nationally."

Through a generous grant from the Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative, AFC awarded $115,761 to Sinai Health Systems and the University of Chicago to provide intensive case management services to HIV-positive pregnant women as a strategy to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission.

AFC also awarded $640,000 to 55 community-based organizations providing an array of HIV prevention, care, and other direct services. More than half of these awards benefit organizations that provide HIV/AIDS prevention, education, and risk-reduction programs. Nearly a quarter of them support direct care services for people living with HIV/AIDS, and the remainder support AIDS public policy and advocacy, and capacity-building/organizational development efforts.

Another $52,500 was granted through the National AIDS Fund's AmeriCorps program and Chicago Dancers United.

Since 1992, AFC has given funding priority to qualified organizations that meet AFC's strict definition for community of color organizations. Nearly half of the community-based organizations funded this year are serving and governed by communities of color. AFC considered 75 funding proposals requesting more than $1.6 million in funding.

AFC thanks the National AIDS Fund, Chicago Community Trust, Michael Reese Health Trust, and all of its generous donors and supporters for making this year's awards possible.

###

Established in 1985, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago is the Midwest's largest source of private philanthropic support for HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs. Since it began making grants in 1988, AFC has given away more than $14 million to support AIDS prevention, education, care, and advocacy programs. In addition, AFC helps to coordinate the delivery of essential HIV/AIDS services, maintains a 135-member Service Providers Council, and promotes sound HIV/AIDS policy and law at the local, state, and federal level.

View list of funded agencies

AFC Announces Awards for Faith in Prevention