How to Raise Money for HIV/AIDS

Hi.  It is Malaak.  I just returned from South Africa this morning.  I will blog about it this week but I just wanted to say that the continent needs our help.  One of the families that I have been supporting for 3 years has grown by 5 people since I last visited them 2 months ago.  This is a granny-led household and a son and four granchildren ages 3 months - 4years have moved into a shack that already had 5 people in it.  I had some encouraging news though as well.  A teenager with AIDS who I met 2 months ago and was near death (could not walk, thin, and sickly) has made an about face and is doing so good because Hope worldwide convinced her to go to the clinic and take her meds.  It is an amazing turnaround because I did not know if she would be alive when I went by her shanty house, but she was and is thriving.  Of course, I was thrilled about this and the work of the local NGO's on the ground.  Please watch the Lazurus Effect video produced by the RED campaign that is under videos on the site to see this positive change for yourself.  PLEASE, PLEASE post ways in which you think that we can help the continent.  I am eager for your input, suggestions, and comments.  Thanks, Malaak.

How about having a JFC event (a dinner).  This could be a ticketed affair and the cost of the tickets should be $25 - $50 per person.  You can also invite companies/corporations to purchase tables (8 persons/table) Ask them to make a committment of 3 tables minimum.  To appease their WIFM (what's in it for me) syndrome, you can offer to recognize them in JFC quarterly newsletter.  The proceeds will go to S.Africa in their efforts to bring awareness to HIV/Aids, prevention, protection, medicine and cure.

NETWORKING with as many African-American doctors in your area  is key. My husband and I travel yearly with a doctor who started a yearly trip to Jamaica and to Africa where they volunteer to treat as many people as possible.  The networking with minority run organizations which consists of African-American doctors is so powerful because many of them are from third world countries and have contacts with local clinics in those countries. For example, we traveled with a doctor here in Macon, GA who is from Nigeria and went to clinics in the "bush" of Abuja, Nigeria and other places to help and treat the sick...several were HIV positive.  There were 25 African-American doctors from Macon, as well as doctors from Howard University and some pharmacuetical representatives whose companies donated thousands of dollars worth of meds. We had a life-changing journey to Africa and treated soooooooooooo many. There were family practioners, podiatrist, kidney doctor, cardiologists, even a plastic surgeon.  I cried when I arrived to Africa and saw the need; however, when we left after 2 weeks, I had to cry different tears because, my husband and his black brothers/colleagues saved lives and healed the sick who had suffered so long without adequate healthcare. I say all of that to suggest networking or just asking around and see if some of the African-American doctors can get together to volunteer in this type of manner to help people who are sick, especially patients with HIV.  Also, they can ask pharmacuetical companies to help sponsor the medication...they have billions of dollars and are willing to help if ASKED. My husband and I are volunteering to Jamaica on March 29-April 5, 2009 with Dr. Clyde Green who is from Black River, Jamaica (way up in the mountains of Jamaica) and built a little medical clinic there where he travels every 3 months (from Georgia)  to treat patients right in his community. We are blessed.

Edited by Renee - 02 Mar 2009 at 6:26pm

What about an African-American mommy  conference??? Allow moms to highlight their talents by networking with other moms, inviting guest speakers on various topics, vendors, etc.  and charge a fee for participants as well as moms. The funds could be donated to Angel Rock Projects.  I am ready to spearhead something here in the Atlanta area where I have a community organization, Ma'hogany Moms, Inc. email me

I think that by holding a campaign on awareness throughout the schools and helping young children become more knowledgeable about this cause will in turn help those in Africa. Kids can relate with Kids, and i believe that if those children see other children concerned about their well being, they will begin to take it more serious. Preparing stickers to show appreciation and sending them notebooks marked red and a happy face on it, should allow them to write into their "well Journals" and help them see their progress.