In December 2017, the Maui AIDS Foundation announced that it has received a grant for $6,000 from The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF), in partnership with Macy’s Cause Marketing Program.
The Maui AIDS Foundation (MAF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1986, provides HIV education and testing services, including free confidential testing for HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis (programs funded by Maui County and the Hawaii Department of Health), as well as a housing referral program. The grant from ETAF will help to fund these and other activities, including MAF’s activities promoting the use of once-daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Currently, the MAF PrEP Clinic’s services include informational group sessions, one-on-one counseling, insurance navigation, and prescribing/monitoring of PrEP for Maui County. ETAF granted an additional $1,000 to each ASO in Hawaii to be used for MAF’s statewide PrEP Coalition. Recognizing that different communities affected by HIV have different needs, MAF plans to tailor their promotional activities campaign materials to county-specific needs. These include such items as informational flyers, drink coasters, posters, and stickers, according to the needs of each community. MAF’s statewide campaign launch is tentatively scheduled for Summer 2018. The newly granted ETAF funds will also be used for helping to meet costs for MAF PrEP coalition members.
In a prepared statement, Joel Goldman [A&U, June 2016], ETAF Managing Director, said “The work that Maui AIDS Foundation does to help people affected by HIV/AIDS is impressive, and very much aligned with Elizabeth Taylor’s passionate commitment to the cause. ETAF and our partners at Macy’s are thrilled to present Maui AIDS Foundation with these funds to help further our shared mission.”
For more information about the Maui AIDS Foundation, please visit http://www.mauiaids.org. For more information about the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, please visit http://www.etaf.org.
—Reporting by Hank Trout