June 1, 2005 | Events

Dance Marathon 2006 to Benefit Pediatric AIDS Prevention

The Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative (PACPI) has been selected as the primary beneficiary for Dance Marathon 2006.

The initiative’s main mission is to ensure that no infant is born with HIV and that pregnant women have access to care and treatment.

PACPI began in December 2000 with the goal of eliminating pediatric HIV/AIDS in Chicago. The collaborative enterprise brings together public and private institutions and community-based organizations to coordinate primary and secondary prevention efforts to achieve its mission.

PACPI has created a safety net of prevention that includes HIV-specific prenatal classes, a statewide hotline for those who work with HIV-positive pregnant women, and a model for enhanced case management to link HIV-positive women to appropriate care.

The partnership between Dance Marathon and PACPI will benefit the Northwestern community as well. Both organizations will help raise HIV/AIDS awareness on Northwestern’s campus through education about HIV prevention and safe sex practices. In addition, the connection between college students and HIV prevention will be able to develop more concretely through programs that PACPI offers and events that both organizations will hold on campus throughout the year.

The Evanston Community Foundation (ECF), the secondary beneficiary since 1998, will receive an increase in their contribution from Dance Marathon from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent.

ECF is a publicly supported philanthropic organization dedicated to enriching Evanston and the lives of its people, now and in the future. The foundation builds and manages its own and other community endowments, addresses Evanston’s changing needs through grant making and provides leadership on important community issues.

With the increased funding, ECF will enhance its community program services to non-profit organizations while continuing to dedicate most of Dance Marathon’s support to grant awards.