The HIV Community in Puerto Rico Receives Post-Hurricane Help from AIDS United and Gilead
AIDS United receives $500,000 from Gilead Sciences to distribute to the HIV community in Puerto Rico Grants to support recovery after Hurricane Fiona.
Next week, AIDS United will release a request for proposals for emergency assistance specifically for the HIV community in Puerto Rico. The call-out to help the community comes after Hurricane Fiona wreaked havoc on the island more than a week ago, and after Gilead Sciences’ donation of $500,000 to AIDS United’s Relief, Recovery & Resilience Fund. The money will go to support organizations serving people living with and vulnerable to HIV in Puerto Rico.
“Our thoughts and hearts are with the people of Puerto Rico. People have lost their homes and jobs, and in the midst of all of that, they are struggling to take care of their health,” said Jesse Milan Jr., president and CEO of AIDS United. “The grants we will provide thanks to the Gilead funding will be used to support a range of services, including housing, safe food and water, medicine, and access to HIV prevention and treatment services. It is our hope that we can quickly alleviate some of the suffering.”
This is not the first time Gilead has partnered with AIDS United to provide hurricane relief. AIDS United created a Hurricane Relief Fund in 2017 following hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria with funding from Gilead and others. The fund’s name was changed in 2020 to the Relief, Recovery & Resilience Fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund now focuses on providing immediate funding to organizations that are meeting the urgent needs of those living with and vulnerable to HIV in regions affected by natural disasters.
To date, the Relief, Recovery & Resilience Fund has given out more than $2 million.
Alex Kalomparis, senior vice president of public affairs at Gilead, said the pharmaceutical company is pleased to partner with AIDS United once more.
“Organizations serving the HIV community are a vital link to care, and they need immediate support. AIDS United has long-standing relationships with community leaders in Puerto Rico, and we’re pleased to once again join them in their efforts to provide relief to the HIV community in Puerto Rico,” said Kalomparis.
More than 20 staff members from AIDS United will travel to Puerto Rico the first week of October to participate in the U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS. Conference organizers have worked for many years to bring the conference to Puerto Rico and say it is still on track to take place. Information about the grants will be available at AIDS United’s USCHA conference booth.
“NMAC stands with our family in Puerto Rico. We had planned to come to San Juan in 2020 in the wake of Hurricane Maria to bring a much-needed economic boost,” said Paul Kawata, executive director of NMAC, the organization planning the conference. “Now, following Hurricane Fiona, the ongoing need is once again evident. We are very proud to bring this help to the people of Puerto Rico, and we are exploring additional options at the conference to support recovery.”
AIDS United’s mission is to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. through strategic grant-making, capacity building, and policy. Click here for more information about AIDS United.
