The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) has announced over $3.2 million in new grants that will further its mission to assist the most marginalized populations vulnerable to HIV infection. These new awards brought EJAF’s final total grant-making commitments for calendar 2011 to a record $8,316,871, with disbursements totaling $7,006,871 last year.

These grants represent EJAF’s continuing commitment to fund demographics and geographic regions that are seriously impacted by HIV/AIDS and under-served by traditional funders. Grant expenditures totaling $3,221,622 were awarded for 19 new and 29 renewal grants, including:

• health services for Black women, one of the highest HIV-impacted populations in this country;
• innovative programs focused on the health and rights of gay and bisexual men throughout the U.S.;
• programs designed to help people with HIV who are leaving prison to access and stay on treatment and maintain their health as they reintegrate into society;
• small community grants supporting services for gay men throughout Latin America;
• clinical and mental health services for vulnerable populations in the Caribbean; and
• additional funding totaling $1.6 million over two years to support over 50 community organizations providing needle exchange and harm reduction services for injection drug users.

“Through the efforts of hundreds of privately-funded syringe access programs, HIV incidence due to injection drug use in the U.S. has declined from 25% of all infections in 2000 to 9%,” said Executive Director Scott Campbell. “Scaled-up syringe access programming could bring injection-related HIV infections down to zero. Given Congress’ unfortunate reinstatement of the ban on the use of federal funding for syringe exchange programs, EJAF’s increased investments as one of the top three funders in this field are particularly crucial.”

“For twenty years, EJAF has remained consistent in our mission, even as we’ve increased the scope and reach of our grant-making,” added Chairman David Furnish. “Our most recent grants continue this historic focus, dedicating critical funding to the most urgent and under-resourced aspects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.”

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The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) is very pleased to announce that Steven Tyler, a generous Foundation supporter and an Event Chair for EJAF’s 20th annual Academy Awards Viewing Party, is working with EJAF to help make its 20th Oscar-night event especially successful. Through an auction on Charitybuzz Steven is inviting the highest bidder to be a guest at his table for the Party.

The winner of the auction will be a guest of Steven Tyler and Erin Brady, dining at their table for the February 26, 2012 event, which will be held at the newly redesigned West Hollywood Park in West Hollywood, CA.

The Foundation’s 20th annual event will feature a cocktail reception, an incredible dinner prepared by celebrity chef Cat Cora and served during the Oscar telecast, an exciting live auction, and an after-show performance by Foster the People. Chopard, Neuro, and Wells Fargo are the Presenting Sponsors for the event, and American Airlines is the official airline partner for the Foundation.

“How would you have to dress if you were sitting next to me at a table at Elton John’s Oscar Party, “Steven Tyler joked.”Sounds like a loaded question, eh? Put your money where your mouth is and arrive as you will and come as you are to help me support the Elton John AIDS Foundation!”

“All of us at EJAF are deeply grateful to Steven for his tremendous generosity over the past several years,” stated EJAF Executive Director Scott Campbell. ”We are particularly thrilled to welcome him as an Event Chair this year for our 20th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party and so very thankful for his leadership and enthusiasm in helping to raise additional dollars for our urgent cause.”

Visit Charitybuzz to bid on this incredible opportunity to enjoy the Oscar telecast with Steven Tyler, Erin Brady, and their guests and to support the urgent work of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

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