Group to Parcel Out AIDS Funds in 1997

Starting in March, the Ventura County AIDS Partnership will begin distributing funds to AIDS prevention, education and patient support programs for county residents.

The AIDS Partnership began its fund-raising drive in February and will continue to collect funds through the end of the year. Officials hope to have as much as $150,000 by spring to divide among local AIDS programs.

“To distribute $150,000 in 1997, we need to meet our 1996 fund-raising goal of $75,000,” said Art McDermott, the AIDS Partnership’s program manager. “We’ve raised $50,000 so far, and we expect year-end charitable gifts to help us meet our $75,000 goal.”

Funds will be distributed through a competitive bid process that will begin in January.

The AIDS Partnership has already decided how a significant portion of its funds will be spent. Following through on its commitment to help the most underfunded AIDS projects in the county, it will allocate a large share of funds to a high-profile AIDS education campaign in the local Latino community and a program to expand medical services for AIDS patients living in eastern Ventura County. The organization also will help pay for food and nutritional programs for needy AIDS patients.

The AIDS Partnership used a 1995 countywide HIV / AIDS needs assessment, conducted by the Ventura County Public Health Department and the Ventura County Community Foundation, to decide which programs are most important.

The Ventura County AIDS Partnership is the local affiliate of the National AIDS Fund, which matches all local funds dollar for dollar with contributions from the Ford Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. This formula transforms the locally raised $75,000 into $150,000.

Nonprofit groups that wish to apply for funding and anyone wishing to make a donation should contact McDermott at 485-6288, ext. 232.