HIV/AIDS Services Cuts
[ From: "State Budget Cuts Hurt Pacific Pride Foundation - The nonprofit reaches out to the community as well as county and city government to help fund its HIV/AIDS services," by Giana Magnoli, Noozhawk, 08.26.2009 - Please visit original article for full text, images and comments ]
After having its budget slashed 65 percent, the Pacific Pride Foundation is turning to the community for help in funding its HIV/AIDS services...
In the past month, California lost $82 million in HIV/AIDS programs funding, which is reminiscent of 1989 levels, PPF Executive Director David Selberg said. While PPF had only 37 HIV/AIDS clients then, it now has 590 to serve with the same amount of funding...
To keep the “bare bones” of core programs going, PPF needs $256,000 from Santa Barbara County, which leaves more than $224,000 to get from grants and donations. Letter-writing campaigns to the county Board of Supervisors, including 2nd District Supervisor Janet Wolf, who was in attendance, are an attempt to get a $50,000 grant from the county’s general fund as well.
Local elected officials in attendance pledged their support to HIV/AIDS programs.
“Whatever we can do as a county to help, we are there, because it is for the health and welfare and the well-being of our great community, and we really have to come together for this,” Wolf said.
The city of Santa Barbara also funds local HIV/AIDS programs. When the City Council reviews its budget next week, a lot of tough decisions will have to be made, Councilwoman Helene Schneider said.
For years, the City Council has given more than $700,000 from its general fund money into human services grants. When most organizations saw that funding get cut by 8.3 percent last year, PPF’s share was not cut, she said.
Councilman Das Williams said the state cuts were unacceptable. “There will be people that will die because of this,” he said. “California has sunk to a level of lack of humanity and civilization. Budgets are a statement of our morality.”
... PPF supporters outlined a number of ways in which community members can help support the programs. Organizers of the Oct. 3 AIDS Walk hope to raise $160,000, more than twice the amount it raised last year. Community members can join teams, pledge or volunteer to help the cause...
Since food bills have been cut, food, personal-care items and household items can be donated to either the Santa Maria or Santa Barbara PPF offices. Desperately needed items include juice, sports drinks, sugar, bar soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, mouthwash, laundry soap and paper towels.
Anyone who shops at Ralphs or Vons can register their cards online to have a percentage of purchases go to PPF, which brings in about $600 a year now and is no extra cost for shoppers.
As an incentive to fundraisers, some donors and corporations have offered large amounts of money if PPF can match them in fundraising efforts...
After having its budget slashed 65 percent, the Pacific Pride Foundation is turning to the community for help in funding its HIV/AIDS services...
In the past month, California lost $82 million in HIV/AIDS programs funding, which is reminiscent of 1989 levels, PPF Executive Director David Selberg said. While PPF had only 37 HIV/AIDS clients then, it now has 590 to serve with the same amount of funding...
To keep the “bare bones” of core programs going, PPF needs $256,000 from Santa Barbara County, which leaves more than $224,000 to get from grants and donations. Letter-writing campaigns to the county Board of Supervisors, including 2nd District Supervisor Janet Wolf, who was in attendance, are an attempt to get a $50,000 grant from the county’s general fund as well.
Local elected officials in attendance pledged their support to HIV/AIDS programs.
“Whatever we can do as a county to help, we are there, because it is for the health and welfare and the well-being of our great community, and we really have to come together for this,” Wolf said.
The city of Santa Barbara also funds local HIV/AIDS programs. When the City Council reviews its budget next week, a lot of tough decisions will have to be made, Councilwoman Helene Schneider said.
For years, the City Council has given more than $700,000 from its general fund money into human services grants. When most organizations saw that funding get cut by 8.3 percent last year, PPF’s share was not cut, she said.
Councilman Das Williams said the state cuts were unacceptable. “There will be people that will die because of this,” he said. “California has sunk to a level of lack of humanity and civilization. Budgets are a statement of our morality.”
... PPF supporters outlined a number of ways in which community members can help support the programs. Organizers of the Oct. 3 AIDS Walk hope to raise $160,000, more than twice the amount it raised last year. Community members can join teams, pledge or volunteer to help the cause...
Since food bills have been cut, food, personal-care items and household items can be donated to either the Santa Maria or Santa Barbara PPF offices. Desperately needed items include juice, sports drinks, sugar, bar soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, mouthwash, laundry soap and paper towels.
Anyone who shops at Ralphs or Vons can register their cards online to have a percentage of purchases go to PPF, which brings in about $600 a year now and is no extra cost for shoppers.
As an incentive to fundraisers, some donors and corporations have offered large amounts of money if PPF can match them in fundraising efforts...
posted by Malcolm
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8/29/2009
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