Elton John AIDS Foundation Awards Major Grant to Human Rights Campaign Foundation
October 25th, 2014 - At tonight's 18 th Annual Human Rights Campaign (HRC) National Dinner, Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish announced that the Elton John AIDS Foundation has awarded a $300,000 grant to HRC's Foundation to increase awareness of HIV prevention, treatment and care among LGBT people-with a specific focus on young gay and bisexual
men and transgender women.
At the sold-out event-which featured remarks by President Bill Clinton, Attorney General Eric Holder, Ambassador Andrew
Young, and a special performance by Jennifer Hudson-John and Furnish were awarded HRC's National Equality Award for their leadership
of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, a global nonprofit organization that works tirelessly to combat stigma, prevent infections,
provide treatment and services, and motivate governments to end HIV/AIDS. Because of their leadership, the Foundation has
raised and awarded more than $300 million in funding for initiatives and innovative programs in over 50 countries around the world.
"We must put the same kind of resources and dedication and creativity that we put into the battle for marriage
equality and apply it to the fight to end AIDS," said Sir Elton John, Founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. "Today, we
have to fight stigma in the same way we did when we first took on AIDS 30 years ago - as if our lives depend on it - because
they do. Now, as then, if we don't lead this fight, no one will."
In partnership with The Fenway Institute and its National LGBT Health Education Center, the project will also feature
an online media campaign combating stigma, increasing community knowledge of the role of antiretroviral medications in HIV
prevention, and advancing culturally competent care training for healthcare providers. The grant is part of a new
grant-making effort by EJAF to reignite the LGBT community's commitment to addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis.
"We are truly grateful for the leadership of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the opportunity we now have to greatly
expand our efforts around HIV/AIDS education and advocacy," said Jeff Krehely, HRC's Vice President & Chief Foundation Officer.
"The grant will make a profound difference to the lives of countless people, especially the members of our community who are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS and the stigma surrounding the disease."
Since its founding, HRC has worked to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic through federal, state and local advocacy for
research, treatment and strengthening the public health safety net. The organization is committed to engaging its
1.5 million members and supporters through large-scale public education and outreach efforts.
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The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to
achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full
members of society at home, at work and in every community. www.hrc.org
Source: http://www.hrc.org/press-releases/entry/elton-john-aids-foundation-awards-major-grant-to-human-rights-campaign-foun
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