25 Ways You Can Make a Difference in the Fight Against AIDS in Your Community
When the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York was formed by a group of committed and concerned volunteers 25 years ago, I don’t think they imagined that AIDS would still be a major public health epidemic in 2009. It is.
There are many things you can do to help the AIDS Council help people living with HIV/AIDS. Over the next five days, I’ll share with you 25 ways you can make a difference in the fight against AIDS in your community.
1. Make a gift of $25 to the AIDS Council’s 25 for Life Campaign today. The AIDS Council’s 25 for Life Campaign will provide funding for emergency services for people living with HIV/AIDS, from assistance with food and shelter to transportation to essential appointments. Your gift of $25 to the 25 for Life Campaign will also provide free, confidential HIV testing to communities most at risk. You can make a secure online donations by visiting our 25 For Life page, or call 518.434.4686 Ext. 2428 to make a gift by phone.
2. Ask your friends, family, co-workers to match your gift of $25 to the AIDS Council’s 25 for Life Campaign today. The best way to inspire a good deed is to perform a good deed of one’s own.
3. Find out if your employer has a matching gift program. If they do, ask if they will match your gift to the 25 for Life Campaign. Many companies will match their employees’ charitable donations – sometimes they will match a gift 2-to-1! Ask your human resources department if your company has a matching gift program, and if so, submit your 25 for Life Campaign gift. Your gift of $25 will then leverage another $25 (or more) from your company, increasing its impact and helping more people living with HIV/AIDS in your community.
4. Join our 25 for Life Cause on Facebook, and get the word out to your online friends, fans and followers that you support the AIDS Council. Facebook will send an announcement to all your friends, fans, and followers that you support our cause. You can make a secure online gift to the 25 for Life Campaign through our 25 for Life Cause on Facebook, too.
5. In fact, follow us on Facebook and Twitter and join our LinkedIn network. By following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, you will receive daily updates on how the AIDS Council is using your gift to help people living with HIV/AIDS and stop the spread of the disease.
Join me tomorrow for more ways to help.
Richard Nacy is the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York’s Director of Development & Marketing. With more than 13 years’ experience in fundraising, development, community relations and communications, Mr. Nacy has raised millions of dollars for charitable organizations in the Capital Region. He is a 2005 recipient of The Business Review’s 40 Under Forty award and is active in the Capital Region not-for-profit community.