Children Affected by AIDS Foundation Announces 2001 Grants.

Business/News Editors & Health/Medical Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 30, 2000

Jamie Lee Curtis, CAAF national spokesperson, inaugurates the eighth year of grant making for the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF), on World AIDS Day, the day when the nation's attention turns to the Global AIDS Epidemic. CAAF is a preeminent funder of pediatric HIV/AIDS organizations and the only foundation that embraces HIV/AIDS-affected children in its charter. Ms. Curtis, the Foundation's national spokesperson, has announced the distribution of $1.2 MM in grants for Y2001. To date, CAAF has raised $7 MM to benefit agencies that provide direct services for children throughout our nation. "Although the picture of children and AIDS seems bleak, there are things that can be done to turn that picture around," says Ms. Curtis. "CAAF is at the heart of some really wonderful changes taking place throughout the nation."

CAAF is a 501(c) 3 grant-making foundation whose mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of children affected by AIDS. Each year, CAAF partners with a diverse array of organizations to meet the multifaceted needs of children who are diagnosed with HIV, or otherwise impacted by AIDS. The purpose of CAAF is to bring joy and fun into the lives of AIDS-affected children through direct care, education and advocacy.

Joining Ms. Curtis in the announcement of CAAF's Y2001 Grants is Joe Cristina, Founder and Board Chair. "We are delighted that we can continue to support grass roots agencies who care for children and their families who are impacted by HIV and AIDS. Despite the advances in treatment, each year, CAAF continues to see an increase in the number of grant proposals we receive," states Cristina.

The announcement comes at the end of an especially productive year for the Foundation. Without an endowment, CAAF is heavily dependent on special events to raise money. CAAF's premiere fundraiser, Dream Halloween(R), was an unqualified success in 2000 producing its first spin off event, Dream Halloween(R), Chicago. Net proceeds of both events, which raised $1.8 million dollars, will benefit 44 organizations in 19 states.

Y2001 CAAF'S GRANT RECIPIENTS by State include: ARIZONA: Mercy Housing South West, Phoenix, AZ. CALIFORNIA: AIDS Project Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; Children's Hospital Los Angeles Foundation, Los Angeles, CA; Health Research Association, Los Angeles, CA; Aid for AIDS, West Hollywood, CA; AIDS Heartline, Redondo Beach, CA; Camp Laurel Foundation, Inc., Los Angeles, CA; El Proyecto del Barrio, Arleta, CA; Foothill AIDS Project, Claremont, CA; The Catalyst Foundation, Lancaster, CA; COLORADO: Angels Unaware, Arvada, CO. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care, Inc. Washington, DC. FLORIDA: Northeast Florida AIDS Network, Jacksonville, FL. ILLINOIS: Chicago Women's AIDS Project, Chicago, IL(1); Mt. Sinai Hospital Pediatric and Adolescent HIV Program, Chicago, IL; The Children's Place Association, Chicago, IL(1); The University of Chicago, Department of Pediatrics, Chicago, IL(1); Vision House, Inc., Chicago, IL; Women & Children HIV Program, Cook County Hospital; Chicago, IL; INDIANA: Jameson, Inc. Indianapolis, IN. LOUISIANA: Tulane-LSU Pediatric Aids Clinical Trails Unit, New Orleans, LA. MASSACHUSSETTS: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA. MICHIGAN: Children's Immune Disorder, Detroit, MI; Wellness Network, Inc. (AIDS Partnership Michigan) Detroit, MI. MISSOURI: Coalition Empowering Families Affected by AIDS, St. Louis, MO; Washington University School of Medicine-Project Ark, St. Louis, MO. NEW JERSEY: St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Paterson, NJ. NEW YORK: Albany Medical Center-Children's Hospital, Albany, NY; New York Council on Adoptable Children, New York, NY; The Family Center, Inc. New York, NY; The Friends of Incarnation Children's Center, Inc., New York, NY; Children's Hope Foundation, New York, NY; Leake and Watts Services, INC., Yonkers, NY; North Bronx Health Care Network, Bronx, NY; Parents & Children Together, Buffalo, NY. NORTH CAROLINA: Agape Family Center, Charlotte, NC; HIV Outreach Programs & Education (HOPE, Inc), Winston Salem, NC. OHIO: Camp Sunrise, Columbus, OH; Columbus Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. SOUTH CAROLINA: The Sue Kuhlen Camp for Kids, Inc., Lexington, SC. TEXAS: University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX. WASHINGTON: Children's Hospital Foundation, Seattle, WA; Rise & Shine Foundation, Seattle, WA. WISCONSIN: Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.

(1) Sara Lee Corporation/CAAF Grants