Pride Foundation

World AIDS Day: Hope – One text at a time!

Pride Foundation is honored to announce a special opportunity in recognition of World AIDS Day on December 1^st. This year also marks the 30^th Anniversary of the first reported HIV/AIDS cases in the United States.  Any time through December 1^st, you can make a $10 donation via text message, and all gifts will go to support HIV/AIDS organizations and projects across the Northwest.  Your text donation will double thanks to a very special $10,000 challenge grant.

Educate.  Advocate.  Eliminate.  Your easy text gift will make a huge difference!

In preparation for this unique campaign – we sat down for a conversation with Jeff Hedgepeth – Pride Foundation’s Grants Program Officer of more than 11 years. He reflected on both personally and professionally about reaching this unique 30 year milestone…

Like many of you, I have been a witness to the entire history of HIV/AIDS.  I remember in 1981, my husband John and I were living in Portland and reading New York Times articles about this strange new cancer that was affecting gay men.  What was most terrifying was not having concrete information on: how you caught it, who had it, how to know, and what to do if you found yourself facing a whole new health reality.

Over the last thirty years, I have had fifteen tests.  Each one is scary.  I have been fortunate, in that I remain HIV negative.   However, I have lost many people and worry about many people near and dear in my life.

A great source of solace and a stroke of good fortune for me has been the opportunity to work for Pride Foundation and be able to collaborate and support so many incredible non-profits.  Pride Foundation began granting to LGBTQ focused organizations nearly 27 years ago.  Since that first year, there have been 700 grants and more than $6 million dollars granted specifically to HIV/AIDS organizations and initiatives.  Early on, these grants primarily went to programs in urban areas.  Over time, it has been phenomenal and inspiring to see the innovation of HIV/AIDS organizations reaching in to rural and remote areas and changing with the cutting edge of medication and research.

Through the great work of these organizations and projects – progress is being made.  An HIV/AIDS diagnosis is still scary, but people have hope and are taking pride in their communities.  While the HIV/AIDS crisis is so intricately linked to the LGBTQ community, this is not a gay disease or LGBTQ issue.  HIV/AIDS affects everyone.  Early on Pride Foundation took a stance: HIV/AIDS is a crisis with profound community impact and therefore, we will support programs within and beyond the LGBTQ community to bring treatment, prevention and change to everyone.  As we move forward – the core of our perspective is…  hope.  Please join us!

I encourage you to give $10 by texting PRIDE to 27722. All texts received on or before the December 1^st support HIV/AIDS organizations and projects across the Northwest.  Thank you!

If you have a question about your text gift or this campaign, please contact Christina at: [email protected] or 800.735.7287.