SAN DIEGO – San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative (HFC), a grant program of San Diego Human Dignity Foundation (SDHDF), invites you to ‘Raise your glass to the end of HIV’ at the first-ever Bar AIDS San Diego event this Thursday, Dec. 3 during World AIDS Week at various bars, nightclubs, coffee shops and smoothie shops throughout San Diego County.
Participating establishments will donate 25 percent or more of the day’s beverage sales to HFC to support grants for local HIV/AIDS programs and initiatives that work collaboratively to link, and retain HIV-infected individuals in care and connect those at high-risk for infection to prevention resources and education.
“We are at an exciting time in the timeline of HIV/AIDS, when we have the tools to end new infections. HFC is committed to doing our part to make this a reality in San Diego County, through the funding of programs and initiatives at agencies and clinics from Oceanside to San Ysidro, and all points in between,” said Ian Morton, senior program analyst, SDHDF. “By supporting Bar AIDS San Diego and other HFC fundraising efforts, funds impact a diverse circle of specialized services that protect and support vulnerable and under-served populations with the sensitive services that retain them in treatment and preventive care.”
Bar AIDS began in Chicago, IL as an event to raise funds for HIV services and to reach and educate the “nightlife” crowd who, while at risk for HIV transmission, may not be as readily linked to the usual avenues where such resources would be available. The event is meant to be simultaneously celebratory and educational.
Taking place during World AIDS Week, San Diego’s inaugural Bar AIDS event will focus on Hillcrest and North Park businesses. Currently the following bars are slated to participate:
- Lava Sushi (92103) (100 percent of proceeds!)
- Babycakes (92103)
- Grinds & Vine Coffee Shop (92104)
- Negociant Winery (92104)
- Numb3rs (92103)
- Rich’s San Diego (92103)
- San Diego Eagle (92104)
- Seventh Avenue Pub at Whole Foods (92103)
- Jamba Juice Hillcrest (92103)
- Baja Betty’s (92103)
- Urban Mo’s (92103)
- Hillcrest Brewing Company (92103)
- Gossip Grill (92103)
Proceeds from Bar AIDS San Diego will support the important work done by San Diego HIV service providers, including Christie’s Place, Family Health Centers of San Diego, Fraternity House, Mama’s Kitchen, North County LGBTQ Resource Center, San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program, San Diego Youth Services, San Ysidro Health Centers and Stepping Stone of San Diego. In addition to grant partnerships with grassroots agencies and HIV programming at larger San Diego clinics, the HFC is proud to be a sponsor of some of the highly visible fundraising and awareness campaigns, such as The San Diego LGBT Center’s AIDS Walk and this year’s inaugural Red Dress Party San Diego.
Despite efforts to prevent new HIV infections across the Unites States, the number of documented new infections remains near 50,000 per year, with San Diego County showing the third highest rates in the state of California. Between the years of 2007-2011, San Diego County averaged 350 new HIV diagnoses per year, with an estimated additional undiagnosed 85 to 90 cases. With the average lifetime cost of HIV treatment hovering at $380,000 per individual, this creates a burden of $133 million in medical costs per year.
By helping HFC and SDHDF raise funds through Bar AIDS San Diego, all supporters can be a part of this meaningful goal, as we work toward the end of HIV.
Learn more about HFC via sdhdf.org and follow the conversation on Facebook using #BarAIDSSD.
