FORT LAUDERDALE – Dec. 13, 2023 – From medical and mental health treatment to housing and transportation to education, HIV/AIDS organizations across South Florida provide these essential services and more year-round. However, by the time December rolls around, many find themselves stretched thin financially.

 

That’s why since 1995, The Campbell Foundation has provided what we lovingly refer to as “Holiday Hugs” to organizations that serve the state’s HIV/AIDS community. The funding often acts as a stop-gap measure for organizations to continue assisting their clients through the end of the year.

 

“Although funding HIV/AIDS research is our main mission, we believe that organizations that assist those living with HIV/AIDS provide important services to those who otherwise might not receive them,” said Ken Rapkin, the foundation’s Executive Director. “HIV/AIDS doesn’t just impact someone’s physical and mental well-being, but many also struggle financially as a result.”

 

This year was a particularly hard for Broward House, which provides numerous services including housing. Earlier this year one of its assisted living facilities suffered extensive flood damage. To assist, The Campbell Foundation brought Christmas early and provided the organization with a $5,000 end-of-year Holiday Hug.

 

Other organizations each received $2,000 each as part of our Holiday Hug program. Three of them also are eligible to receive matching funds from the Florida AIDS Walk in March from AIDS Healthcare Foundations, allowing these donations to go twice as far.

 

“The Campbell Foundation’s Holiday Hug funding allows us to provide services that our regular grants do not cover. In this case, rides to non-emergency appointments related to HIV care and services.,” said Stephen Fallon, Executive Director of Latinos Salud, whose organization is one that will receive matching funds.

These community partners also received Holiday Hugs:

 

• AH Monroe in Key West

• BASIC NWFL in Panama City

• Children's Diagnostic & Treatment Center in Fort Lauderdale

• Compass in West Palm

• Latinos Salud in Wilton Manors (matching funds)

• McGregor Clinic in Ft. Myers

• Oasis in Ft. Walton Beach

• Poverello in Wilton Manors

• Pride Center in Fort Lauderdale (matching funds)

• SunServe in Wilton Manors (matching funds)

 

“The Campbell Foundation has been a terrific partner to the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center throughout the years. The support received truly makes a difference in the lives of our clients,” said Executive Director Ana Calderon-Randazzo.

 

In addition to the Holiday Hugs, The Campbell Foundation is pleased to announce that it provided nearly $255,000 in funding to HIV/AIDS researchers in Miami, Philadelphia and New York.

 

 

About The Campbell Foundation

 

The Campbell Foundation was established in 1995 by the late Richard Campbell Zahn as a private, independent, nonprofit foundation dedicated to supporting clinical, laboratory-based research into the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. It focuses its funding on supporting alternative, nontraditional avenues of research. As The Campbell Foundation prepares to celebrate its 29th year, it has given away more than $12 million dollars, with more than $1.5 million going to direct services.