Newsroom
AIF Announces ‘Public Health – HIV/AIDS’ Focus Area
- AIF Announces Partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Kavya Rajan
kavya@aifoundation.org / (646) 530-8964
New York (AIF), May 16, 2005 – The American India Foundation (AIF) embraces a third focus area in grant making: public health, with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS.
The existing two focus areas are education, with an emphasis on elementary education, and livelihood, with an emphasis on women’s empowerment. As part of its mission to accelerate social and economic change in India AIF provides grants to India-based nonprofits that further these goals.
Simultaneously, the American India Foundation announces a partnership between AIF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to galvanize the Indo-American community to support the fight against HIV/AIDS in India. There is a window of opportunity to contain the epidemic by scaling up proven HIV prevention efforts; however, there is a dramatic lack of resources, attention, and political commitment to the issue.
“We are excited about this strategic partnership between AIF and the Gates Foundation to work on building alliances and accelerating programs to mitigate HIV/AIDS in India. We are delighted to celebrate this partnership with senior representatives from the Gates Foundation at tonight’s Spring Benefit Gala in New York," said Lata Krishnan, President of AIF.
Globally, one in eight people living with HIV resides in India, a total of more than 5 million persons. Half a million new infections were added last year alone. It is estimated by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) that by 2010 the prevalence could more than double to approximately 10 million cases or even greater.
The Gates Foundation works to reduce global health inequities by accelerating the development, deployment, and sustainability of health interventions that will save lives and dramatically reduce the disease burden in developing countries. Stopping the transmission of HIV is the Foundation’s top global health priority.(Source: http://www.gatesfoundation.org)
The American India Foundation will recognize its partnership with the Gates Foundation tonight at its star-studded Spring Benefit Gala at the Waldorf=Astoria in Manhattan. With the goal of raising $1 million for its grants and programs, AIF will present an exciting evening of fusion Asian music, gourmet food, and high-profile guests.
About AIF
The American India Foundation (AIF) is a leading international development organization charged with the mission of accelerating social and economic change in India. By mobilizing people and resources across the United States, AIF has raised over $24 million since its inception in 2001. AIF provides grants to education, livelihood, and public health projects in India with a focus on elementary education, women’s empowerment, and HIV/AIDS, respectively. AIF also administers two programs: (1) the Service Corps, which develops young American leaders by matching their skills with the needs of Indian nonprofits, and (2) the Digital Equalizer, which bridges the digital divide by providing computers, Internet, and training to under-resourced schools. AIF works out of New York and Silicon Valley in the US, and New Delhi and Bangalore in India. President Bill Clinton serves as Honorary Chair.
For more information contact:
Press Contact: Kavya Rajan
kavya@aifoundation.org / (646) 530-8964
http://www.AIFoundation.org