Second Urgent Appeal from The South Side Help Center in Chicago!!

Dear Trusted Friends, Supporters and Colleague:
I’m writing this letter to you not only as the Director of Development, but as a member of the community. Like you I’ve witnessed the devastation and wreckage HIV/AIDS has left and continues leaving in its trail. Besides, African Americans as a group continue being disproportionately represented in virtually every disease category.
In a time of shifting funding priorities and shrinking dollars for community based organizations, I’m appealing to your compassion and understanding to support the South Side Help Center with a $25, $50, $75 or $100 special monthly tax deductible donation for the next year. Your commitment will help sustain vital services to members of our community such as HIV/STD and Violence prevention, mentoring/counseling/after-school programs for youth, as well as health care services, including housing assistance and mental health counseling services.
The South Side Help Center, a 501 (c)(3) community based organization is the oldest African American owned and operated HIV/AIDS service provider in Chicago and probably in the Midwest. At a time when many in the African American community found refuge in believing HIV/AIDS was a white gay male disease, Mrs. Betty Smith, founder and Executive Director knew better. She witnessed first hand the alarming number of African American men particularly, dying of AIDS in virtual isolation and without social or spiritual support.
While we’ve come a long way since 1987 and garnered many awards in recognition for our work in supporting the community’s need and desire for healthier and safer living, at this present time we’re faced with financial challenges that if not addressed in the very near future could mean we would be forced to shut our doors permanently. The service gap would be enormous, but more devastating would be the number of African American men, women and youth left without the consistent support and friendship of the staff and board of this organization.
Please become one of our supporters with your special [tax deductible] monthly donation of $25, $50, $75 or $100 . In recognition and appreciation for your kind donation we will list you and/or your organization in our Annual Report, Newsletter and, press releases.
Disproportionate impact on Minorities

o According to the 2000 Census, African Americans make up 12.3% of the US population. However, they have accounted for 368,169 (40%) of the 929,985 estimated AIDS cases diagnosed since the epidemic began.
o In Chicago, people of color, who account for 47% of the City’s total population, account for 81% of recently diagnosed adult AIDS cases and 77% of recently diagnosed HIV cases.
o HIV/AIDS disproportionately impacts African-American women in Illinois. Roughly 66% of Illinois women living with HIV are African American, while African Americans only make up 15% of the Illinois
o African American account for 77% l Intravenous Drug Users (IDU) associated AIDS diagnosis in 2002-2003.

Impact on Youth
o African-American youth are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancy. Race and ethnicity are not risk factors but are risk markers that correlate with fundamental determinants of health such as poverty and limited access to quality health care.

o African Americans accounted for 58 percent of reported AIDS cases in Illinois adolescents ages 13 to 19.
o African Americans accounted for the highest number of reported cases for reportable STDs in Illinois adolescents ages 10 to 19.

As the above data indicates, we’re living in the midst of a health crisis that is rooted in multiple factors. The bottom line is however, that without adequate funding no one can do justice to implementation of effective interventions and the numbers will keep on rising!

Your contribution will give us the necessary support to maintain our current level of staffing and hopefully allow us to hire additional staff to meet the demands of this health crisis. Your support will also provide necessary operational funds to pay for things like: light, phone, copiers, paper, postage, insurance and other essentials.
Please become one of our supporters with your special [tax deductible] monthly donation of $25, $50, $75 or $100 and be one of our angels of hope.
Please make your checks payable to: South Side Help Center Mailing address: 10420 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60628
If you wish to pay by credit card, please call us at (773) 445-5445, ext 19 and ask for Sylvia Cox.
Thank you for allowing me to share myself with you.
Sincerely,
Victor R. Pond
Director of Development
South Side Help Center
10420 S. Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60628
Phone: (773) 580-0963
Fax: (773) 445-9818
vpond@southsidehelp.org


"Fear thou not for I'm with thee. Be not dismayed, for I'm thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10