$20,000 GRANT TO HELP LOCAL FOUNDATION HIV, AIDS SERVICES SUPPORTED.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - The Catalyst Foundation has been awarded a $20,000 grant to be used in its efforts to provide services and support to children and their families who are impacted by HIV and AIDS.

Organizers say the foundation's programs are sorely needed in the Antelope Valley, where an estimated 800 people are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

``This program is in a very isolated area, since it's in the northernmost part of Los Angeles County. They might get some federal aid, but it's very hard for them to get either grants or programs that will fund their services,'' said Anjelica Valenzuela, program director for the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, which awarded the grant.

``We are honored to have the opportunity to provide this grant to them since we know they are in great need and are doing a great job,'' Valenzuela said.

The Catalyst Foundation grant was among the $1.2 million given out by CAAF this year to 44 organizations in 19 states. A total of 106 agencies applied.

CAAF, which was founded in 1993 by Mattel executive Joe Cristina, who is HIV-positive, has to date raised $7 million. CAAF was formed to address the needs of children infected with HIV and affected by the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

The grant, announced two weeks ago, will go toward supporting case management, food and housing services provided by the Catalyst Foundation to families impacted by AIDS and HIV.

The foundation was formed in 1992 by Lancaster physician Susan Lawrence, who serves as executive director. It has seven full-time staff and five part-time workers.

``There is not a lot of services for families here. There are a lot more agencies in the Los Angeles area. Transportation is difficult,'' Lawrence said. ``That's one reason why we were selected.''

The foundation also provides medical care for people with AIDS and educational programs, including the Life Challenge project that reaches 10,000 youths incarcerated at five juvenile probation camps in the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.

As part of its case management services, the Catalyst Foundation works with the Tarzana Treatment Center and the Los Angeles Family AIDS Network in linking up individuals and families with social support services that will help improve their quality of life, Lawrence said.

For example, a case manager can help a single mother who is HIV-positive and out of work find out what kind of benefit programs she is eligible for, Lawrence said.

The Catalyst Foundation runs three food programs. One is a collaboration with Los Angeles-based Project Angel Food, which sends up a truck every Thursday, bringing a week's supply of frozen meals for 45 families, Lawrence said.

In another program, the foundation sends a volunteer by taxi every week to AIDS Project L.A. to pick up nonperishable goods, such as canned goods, cereal, bread, and sometimes meat and milk, for 50 families, Lawrence said.

The foundation also runs a food pantry for those clients who do not qualify for either of the other two programs.

Under the foundation's Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS program, families can obtain grants to help pay for rent, move-in costs, and utilities, Lawrence said.

Lawrence said the CAAF grant money will be used to help pay for salaries and overhead costs.

The foundation's Life Challenge HIV-prevention, mentoring and youth employment program was started in 1994 and is taught at Challenger, Munz, Mendenhall, Scott and Scudder youth probation camps.

``The focus is how difficult feelings from difficult life situations can lead people to behaviors that put people at risk for HIV, hepatitis C, gang involvement and violence,'' Lawrence said.

Valenzuela noted that Lawrence is dedicated to the Catalyst Foundation and has been personally affected by AIDS.

Lawrence's husband died of AIDS in 1993. Frank Altadonna, a Catalyst board member who developed the Life Challenge program and lived with HIV and hepatitis C for 17 years, died in February 1999 from liver failure before he and Lawrence could be married.