Background
For more than 20 years, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has served as the philanthropic resource for nonprofit organizations supporting HIV/AIDS initiatives in the Atlanta region. Through the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund, a collaborative funding partnership between The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, the National AIDS Fund and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, we provided more than $11 million in grants to AIDS serving organizations focused on education, prevention and advocacy efforts.
While these investments have been essential, local leaders at The Community Foundation and United Way are aware that the disease continues to be a significant one in our region and our country. The disease has become less of a medical issue than a social justice issue. New HIV infection is concentrating most in people of color and people who are poor, homeless, incarcerated, have other health challenges, unprotected sex and/or use drugs. Their infections are more likely to progress to AIDS because these communities have unsubstantial or no access to health care and often do not get the level of treatment needed.
In 2007, The Community Foundation and United Way recognized the need for a game-changing approach to HIV/AIDS and enlisted an all-star AIDS Leadership Team co-chaired by Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General, and Sandy Thurman, former White House AIDS Czar, for creative, expert advice. After several community-led forums with Atlanta’s AIDS serving organizations and community leaders, the Leadership Team conceptualized its vision to more strategically coordinate the AIDS-focused efforts and leaders in the region to realize large, important gains in ending the epidemic.
As a result, the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund was split into two entities – the Atlanta AIDS Fund continues to provide grants and support to AIDS serving organizations, and the Atlanta AIDS Partnership leads the collaborative, community plan to end HIV/AIDS.
Click here to information on grantmaking through the Atlanta AIDS Fund.
About the Atlanta AIDS Partnership
The Atlanta AIDS Partnership, a joint venture of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta focused on bringing the region’s leadership’s attention and resources, human and financial, on HIV/AIDS. With multiple community partners, the Partnership serves as the planning and coordinating body for Metropolitan Atlanta. They do this by:
- engaging a nationally recognized, locally-based AIDS leadership team;
- providing technical assistance and resources to local organizations;
- mobilizing the support, intellect and passion of an extensive network of AIDS serving organizations, faith-based institutions, nonprofits, civic groups, universities and community members;
- facilitating public policy initiatives to improve the HIV/AIDS system of prevention, testing and care;
- leading a community-driven process to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and to provide compassionate care for those affected.
Leadership
The Leadership Team for the AIDS Partnership, first convened in August 2007, is working to develop a comprehensive community plan to increase the region’s awareness and involvement in the HIV/AIDS crisis; develop strategies for achieving community impact through high-quality, strategic leadership and financial investments; and create an organizational strategic plan for the AIDS Partnership.
Co-chairs
- Dr. David Satcher, President of the Center for Primary Care, Morehouse School of Medicine and former US Surgeon General
- Sandy Thurman, President, International AIDS Trust at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and former Director of National AIDS Policy under the Clinton Administration
Additional members
- Stuart Brown, MD Director, Division of Public Health
- Jim Curran, MD MPH, Dean, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
- Kevin Fenton, MD PhD, Director National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention - National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Kandy Ferree, President and CEO, National AIDS Fund
- Dr. Helene Gayle, President and CEO, CARE
- The Honorable John Lewis, United States House of Representatives
- Milton Little, Jr., President, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta
- Gary Nelson, President, Healthcare Georgia Foundation.
- Alicia Philipp, President, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
- Rev. Raphael Warnock, Senior Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church