| DIOCESAN NEWS and ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE "EPISCOPAL RESPONSE TO AIDS" ISSUES 2ND ANNUAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO FUND AIDS MINISTRIES IN NEW YORK AREA "There are many organizations in our communities making miracles happen in the lives of people with HIV/AIDS every day, but they lack access to funds because their ministries are too small or localized to meet the requirements of most RFPs." (New York, September 12, 2007)—The Board of Directors of Episcopal Response to AIDS today announced the grass-roots organization's second annual request for proposals from organizations serving people with HIV/AIDS in the greater New York area. ERA anticipates awarding up to $30,000 in grant monies for 2008. "ERA was founded by a group of lay Episcopalians who realized that there are many organizations in our communities making miracles happen in the lives of people with HIV/AIDS every day, but they lack access to funds because their ministries are too small or localized to meet the requirements of most RFPs," said Suzanne Culhane, Chair of ERA. "ERA fills that gap by offering small grants of up to $5,000 to local Episcopal-affiliated ministries serving people with HIV/AIDS." ERA was formed in 2003 as a loose coalition of Episcopal churches in the Diocese of New York who agreed to do collaborative fundraising for HIV/AIDS-related services through the annual AIDS Walk New York,organized by Gay Men's Health Crisis. Because government funding for services to people with HIV/AIDS is diminishing, many churches have been striving to fill that ongoing need. ERA grants help enable crucial parish-based AIDS ministries receive the funding they need because they are often not eligible for secular funding. ERA was incorporated and received its designation as a charitable organization in 2006, so all donations made to ERA are tax-deductible. Supported almost exclusively by contributions to individuals walking with ERA in the annual AIDS Walk New York, ERA raised $55,000 this year alone through contributions to walkers raising money for ERA and GMHC in the 2007 AIDS Walk. The organization's status as a charitable organization reflects ERA's growth and ongoing dedication to supporting ministries to people with HIV and AIDS throughout the greater New York area, including the Episcopal Dioceses of New York, Long Island and Newark. In 2007, ERA will make up to six grants of up to $5,000 to proposed projects through the request for proposals launched today. Proposals must be submitted to ERA no later than October 12, 2007 to be considered for funding. Awards will be announced at a reception following a special World AIDS Day mass on December 1, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at Trinity Further details on the mass can be found at www.trinitywallstreet.org. Guidelines for proposals and applications for the grants can be downloaded at ERA's Web site: www.erany.org. Episcopal Response to AIDS is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization based in New York City whose mission is to support, foster and financially enable HIV/AIDS ministries affiliated with Episcopal faith communities in the greater New York area. ERA is staffed exclusively by a volunteer board of directors that is comprised of individuals who are members of Episcopal parishes from the Episcopal Dioceses of Long Island, New York and Newark. The Right Reverend Mark S. Sisk, Bishop of New York, is the organization's Honorary Chair. The first class of grant recipients was announced at the World AIDS Day 2006 Requiem Mass at St. Michael's Church in Manhattan. They include: • Misión San Juan Bautista in the Bronx, NY to fund Proyecto Vida • St. James of Jerusalem Church in Long Beach, NY, to fund Upon the Face of the Waters • Ascension Outreach, Inc., at the Church of the Ascension in Manhattan to fund the Bailey House Meals Program • The board also bequeathed a donation to the Church of St. Luke of the Fields in Manhattan in memory of ERA founding Board Member, Shields Remine. # # # |