US Partners
United Methodist Global AIDS Fund
Created by a petition prepared in 2003 by the Center for Health & Hope and endorsed by the 2004 United Methodist General Conference, this program has raised about $3 million dollars, distributing 159 grants in 33 countries. In 2008 the Fund was re-affirmed by the General Conference. Each local congregation and every United Methodist is encouraged to contribute yearly to the Fund. Of the monies received, 75% is sent to UMCOR to be distributed primarily internationally and 25% is retained in individual conferences to be used for domestic or international AIDS projects. The UMCOR Advance number is #982345. Online giving is possible through umcmission.org.
The Center's Founder, Donald E. Messer, helped chair the international United Methodist Global AIDS Fund Committee from 2008-2016 and now serves on the Executive Committee. An inter-agency committee, members are composed of representative lay and clergy from the Board of Global Ministries, Board of Church and Society, Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, United Methodist Communications, Board of Discipleship, and persons unrelated to any agency.
It Takes a Village
IT TAKES A VILLAGE is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization whose mission is to reduce health and social disparities among people of color in the Denver/Aurora, Colorado metropolitan area. Learn more at ittakesavillagecolorado.org.
Special attention is focused on the crisis being faced in the African-American community in relation to HIV and AIDS.
About half of all HIV infections in the United States are among African-Americans.
The Center for Health and Hope supports the work of It Takes A Village and has made grants particularly aimed at helping HIV positive homeless and recently incarcerated persons with HIV to get temporary housing.
It Takes A Village collaborates with Brother Jeff's Community Health Initiative (HIV Client Advocacy and Healthy Relationships); the Empowerment Program (Community Without Walls, HIV Testing, Seeking Safety); Denver Public Health (STD Testing), Church World Service (HIV Client Advocacy and Phenomenal Women), Center for Health and Hope (Community Without Walls housing) and Aurora Mental Health Center (for eviction and homelessness prevention program). Other collaborators include the Colorado Health Network, Gender Identity Center, and Pan African Arts Society, among others.
Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network
For 30 years, TIHAN has honored and supported over 1,000 persons living with HIV and AIDS in the Tucson, Arizona, area by providing support programs, services, care packages of needed items, emergency financial help, transportation, and serving over 25,000 meals at POZ Cafe, free of prejudice and proselytism.
For the past ten years, the Center for Health and Hope and TIHAN have partnered on an annual fundraiser to assist both organizations.
The 2024 Leadership Award was presented at the RED Concert in February to Jess Losoya.
Learn more at tihan.org.