Foundation Receives Major Grant to Battle AIDS in Rwanda

In August, the Foundation announced a $27 million-grant that will help provide counseling and testing services to an estimated 450,000 people in Rwanda. "Rwanda's work to slow and reduce the AIDS epidemic is a genuine success story," said Foundation Rwanda Country Director Dr. Nancy Fitch. The grant, awarded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), hopes to propel that momentum, and will also help bolster the nation's health care system over a five-year period. Learn more here.

Ariel Glaser Pediatric Center Unveiled

On August 11, the Foundation and its partners celebrated the opening of the Ariel Glaser Pediatric Center in Bouake, Côte d'Ivoire. The Center is named for Elizabeth Glaser's daughter, who contracted HIV after her mother was infected while giving birth. An estimated 54,000 infants are born to HIV-positive women each year in Côte d'Ivoire; one-third of those babies will be infected with the virus. The center will respond to the needs of these children and their parents. Foundation President and CEO Pamela W. Barnes spoke at the opening, saying of the clinic's promise, "We hope to sustain and grow the center into a model for future centers in Côte d'Ivoire." Read more.

High School Sophomore Raises Awareness for Pediatric AIDS

Thomson Jaffe, a high school sophomore, is not your typical teenager. A local stage actress who hopes to make it on Broadway some day, Thomson took her enthusiasm for theater and combined it with a desire to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, organizing "Kids for Kids Cabaret," a variety show featuring young performers. In its first year, the event raised $450 to benefit the Foundation's lifesaving programs. Her motivation was simple: "I love helping people," she explained. Read the rest of Thomson's story here.

Support the Foundation's Fight for Better Pediatric Medicines and Devices

This week, Congress is slated to vote on critical legislation to ensure that children will have better access to medical devices and medicines that are correctly dosed, properly labeled, and proven safe for pediatric use. This is the last chance to give voice to this important, and often overlooked, issue. Stay up-to-date with the Foundation's advocacy efforts by bookmarking this page.

Foundation Country Director Presents CD4 Count Machine to Tanazanian President

On August 22, Foundation Country Director Dr. Anja Giphart presented President Jakaya Kikwete with a CD4 count machine. The machine helps to measure white CD4 cells in the blood and is used as a monitoring tool for the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients. This gift represents a fraction of the Foundation's work in Tanzania, which includes counseling of HIV-infected women, providing antiretroviral medications to patients, and helping to train 1,800 medical personnel. Read more here.