EJAF today announced its first round of grants for calendar year 2013, totaling $850,000.  View a complete list and project descriptions for these latest grants:

www.ejaf.org/2013-grants

The three new and two renewal grants support organizations working to address some of the most critical challenges of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States.  The projects being supported include:

• • efforts to improve access to HIV-related medical services in Puerto Rico, an area of the country hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic;
• • programs that help link people with little or no health coverage to resources that will help them stay on their HIV/AIDS medications;
• • advocacy and education about HIV criminalization to end the use of criminal law to prosecute and imprison HIV-positive people for consensual and no-risk behavior;
• • a campaign to bring the documentary film How to Survive a Plague and associated education programs to a broader audience; and
• • the creation of the New York City AIDS Memorial and the development of associated education programs.
  
  

We are deeply grateful to all of our generous and loyal donors for supporting EJAF’s life-saving grant initiatives.

Guidelines and instructions for making a new request here:

www.ejaf.org/how-to-request-funding

The deadline for submitting letters of intent (LOIs) will be 5 PM Eastern Standard Time on May 24, 2013.

EJAF’s newest grantee spotlight highlights the life-saving work of the Foundation’s grantees in Haiti:

www.ejaf.org/haiti-spotlight

The island nation of Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas with one of the highest national rates of HIV outside of sub-Saharan Africa.  On top of this, the island suffered a massive earthquake in January of 2010, which killed more than 200,000 people, destroyed much of Haiti’s infrastructure, and severely weakened its tenuous health care system.  The earthquake was followed by one of the worst cholera outbreaks in more than a century.

Despite these tremendous challenges, Haiti has made great strides with the assistance of international aid from governments and the nonprofit sector, including EJAF.  This article focuses on the accomplishments of EJAF grantees Partners In Health, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Housing works, SeroVie, and Promoteurs Objectif Zero SIDA (POZ).  Through projects addressing a variety of needs, from diagnostic testing, medical care, and treatment services, to community-building and networking with marginalized populations, to advising and working with the Haitian government and healthcare professionals to improve national policies and systems for HIV treatment and care, these grantees have provided services to thousands of people who otherwise would not be receiving the care and treatment they need. Read the spotlight article here:

www.ejaf.org/haiti-spotlight

EJAF will be supporting the 23rd International Harm Reduction Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, from June 9-12, 2013.

www.ihra.net/conference

“The Elton John AIDS Foundation is honored to support the International Harm Reduction Conference in order to shine a bright light on an important issue that is so often ignored by policy makers and the press,” said EJAF Chairman David Furnish.  “Syringe access and other harm reduction approaches have been proven time and again to save lives, but the stigma surrounding drug use and AIDS has prevented some policy makers from taking action.  Through this conference, we can raise our collective voice, and raise awareness, about this urgent issue.”

Study after study has shown that syringe access is a very effective way of stopping the spread of HIV.  Unfortunately, in certain countries, it’s also highly controversial.  In the United States, it is against the law to use federal funds for syringe access programs.  That’s why EJAF is proud to participate in the International Harm Reduction Conference, where global experts will gather to discuss the latest research and raise awareness about how governments can prevent HIV transmission.

David Furnish, Peter Staley, Sir Elton John, Sara Rafsky, David Barr, and Mark Harrington attend a LoveGold/EJAF reception celebrating the documentary How to Survive a Plague at Chateau Marmont on February 22, 2013 in Los Angeles. Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision for LoveGold/AP Images

On Friday, February 22, 2013, EJAF and LoveGold hosted a special reception for the Academy Award-nominated documentary film How to Survive a Plague at Selma House, Chateau Marmont, in Los Angeles. View a photo gallery from the event:

www.ejaf.org

This extraordinary film is an intimate portrait of the people of ACT UP, a group that came together in New York at the height of the AIDS crisis to fight for HIV research and treatment, and its spin-off organization the Treatment Action Group (TAG), a long-standing EJAF partner and a current grantee of the Foundation.

“How to Survive a Plague is a rare film that is both art and history,” said Sir Elton.  “It transports us back to a time when HIV/AIDS was a mysterious killer, and then takes us on a journey that ultimately celebrates the activist heroes who saved millions of lives.” 

EJAF today announced its final round of grants for calendar year 2012, totaling $3,346,530.  This new funding brings EJAF’s total grant investments for 2012 to over $7.4 million.  View a complete list and project descriptions for these latest grants:

www.ejaf.org/2012-grants

The 16 new and 36 renewal grants support projects in the Caribbean, Latin America, the Southern United States, and national initiatives throughout the U.S.  Target populations covered by this grant cycle include gay men, incarcerated populations, injection drug users, African Americans, and young people.  Grantee activities include HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care services, legal services, organization development, and policy and advocacy.

Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for EJAF

The 21st annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish nearly $6 million for the fight against HIV/AIDS.  The gala, which took place on Sunday, February 24, at West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, was sponsored by Chopard, Neuro Drinks, and Wells Fargo. View a photo gallery from the event:

www.ejaf.org

In his remarks for the evening, Elton celebrated the Oscar-nominated documentary How to Survive a Plague, praising the extraordinary work of the early AIDS activists portrayed in the film and calling for a renewed emphasis on AIDS advocacy.  

“How to Survive a Plague tells the story of AIDS activism in the earliest and most terrifying years of the AIDS epidemic.  But you know what?  Today, that activism is needed now more than ever if we are to achieve the promise of an AIDS-free generation,” said Sir Elton.  “Our Foundation is clear on what is needed, we’re vocal in standing for what we believe, and we invest in the work that needs to be done.  And I promise you that we’ll keep on fighting until the politics and bureaucracies yield to reason and justice.  I don’t care how long it takes, we’re going to fight, and we’re going to win.”

EJAF has reached the historic milestone of having raised more than $300 million for HIV prevention, treatment, advocacy, and anti-stigma programs across the globe.  Please read more about this achievement and how EJAF’s fundraising has made a difference around the world:

www.ejaf.org

“After 20 years of doing this work, I know that the only way to fight against AIDS is by helping everyone in need, especially those living at the margins of society,” said Sir Elton John. “I’m so grateful to all our donors, whose generosity has allowed us to support dozens of innovative organizations that provide critical services to the most stigmatized populations around the world.  These organizations are doing work that governments refuse to do, and helping people that governments refuse to help.  I’m proud and honored to support them.  And even though our foundation has reached this wonderful milestone, there is so much more work to be done.”

In recent years, we have made significant progress in fighting the global AIDS epidemic.  But we have a long way to go.  Ending AIDS will require more funding, and more commitment from the international community.  But what it will require most of all is more compassion.  

On Valentine’s Day, Elton John, David Furnish, and a host of celebrities will raise awareness about the need for compassion to fight AIDS by pricking their fingers, creating a spot of blood, and tweeting the image accompanied by the words “Love Is In My Blood.”

EJAF is spearheading this campaign with the help of renowned artist Ai Wei Wei, who has created a short film to remind the world that the fight against AIDS is winnable, but only if we have enough love and compassion to ensure that no one is left behind or made to feel ashamed for being HIV-positive.

We encourage you to share this film with your friends, family, and colleagues, and spread the word about Elton’s campaign for compassion.

photo: Simon Emmett

EJAF has selected soulful Scottish songstress Emeli Sandé to perform at this year’s Academy Awards Viewing Party to be held on Sunday, February 24, 2013, at West Hollywood Park.

“Emeli Sandé’s album, ‘Our Version of Events,’ is a true work of art and a favorite of mine,” said Founder Sir Elton John. “When she is on stage, you can feel her passion for music and the heart that goes into her lyrics. I can’t wait to introduce Emeli to my guests and experience her live performance together.  I predict that by next year she will be a multi-Grammy Award winner.” 

“I’m absolutely delighted to have the chance to work with Sir Elton again and to help support the amazing work he continues to do with his Foundation,” said Emeli Sandé. “I was lucky enough to perform at his Grey Goose Winter Ball recently and I’m sure this will be as memorable a night. I look forward to helping the Foundation raise funds and awareness for those touched by HIV/AIDS.”