The San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative (SDHFC) has announced the 2004 recipients of approximately $402,250 in grant awards this year. The funds, raised through AIDS Walk San Diego and a number of local and national donors who contribute to SDHFC, will be distributed to more than 30 agencies that provide direct support and services to San Diegans struggling with HIV/AIDS. Checks will be handed out during the annual AWSD/SDHFC Grants Awards Ceremony to will be held at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at The Center.

The 32 recipients were selected through a granting process spearheaded by the SDHFC, and represent a wide-ranging group of HIV/AIDS service organizations in the San Diego area. Among the recipients are APICAP, Being Alive, Bienestar, The Center, CSSE, Mama’s Kitchen, Special Delivery and Townspeople. The funding comes at a crucial time when federal and state budgets for HIV/AIDS services are being cut.

“When we didn’t have any funding, AIDS Walk was there for us,” said Jess San Roque, executive director at APICAP. “We have been getting mixed messages about why we are not getting the [county] funds to do the work in the API community in regards to HIV and AIDS. The message we are getting is that we don’t have the numbers and therefore there must not be any problems in the API community with regards to HIV/AIDS.”

Special Delivery also had its county funding cut this year when their grant application for Ryan White Care Act funds was turned down.

“It’s very important in a number of ways,” said Ruth Henricks, executive director of Special Delivery. “Obviously we can use the dollars, but I think it sends a message that we are still being supported by the people in the community no matter what the final decision was from the county on the Ryan White Funding.”

AIDS Walk San Diego is the largest single-day fundraiser for HIV and AIDS in the county. Founded in 1989, the event has raised more than $5 million for HIV and AIDS direct service providers.

Along with AIDS Walk, SDHFC funding partners who contributed to this year’s grant awards include: The Sunshine Brooks Permanent Fund of AIDS Foundation San Diego, Alliance Healthcare Foundation, Elton John AIDS Foundation, McCarthy Family Foundation, National AIDS Fund, The Parker Foundation, The San Diego Foundation, San Diego Human Dignity Foundation and The San Diego Foundation’s Weingart-Price Fund.

“The generosity and commitment from all our partners has allowed us to grant the largest amount ever in the San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative’s history,” stated David Contois, board chair of the SDHFC. “Especially in these times of reduced federal funding and severe cuts to state and local budgets, the people of San Diego recognize that a cure is still not imminent and have continued their support in a record amount for 2003.”

Since its inception, the San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative and its foundations have raised over $3 million for local agencies that help supply food, medicine, shelter, baby products, testing and additional services to the over 5,300 individuals and families struggling to survive with AIDS and the 15,000 people infected with HIV in San Diego County.

“These grants represent an ongoing commitment to continue the fight against this deadly disease,” said Fred Sainz, chairman of the AIDS Walk Community Advisory Council and member of The Center’s board of directors. “We are indeed grateful to be a partner in this necessary process and are extremely happy that the monies raised by AIDS Walk and the many other local and national foundations will be distributed to such a diverse group of service providers.”

For more information about the SDHFC, the grant awardees or to RSVP for the ceremony, call Katherine Silver, Program Associate at Alliance Healthcare, (858) 614-4894. For a complete list of the agencies awarded grants this year, visit gaylesbiantimes.com online and click on this story for more information.