The HIV community knows what it’s like to face a life-threatening crisis, so it was quick to offer aid when a series of hurricanes and severe storms struck the nation and its territories in late August and September. Below are rays of light shining among the devastated areas of Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and providing assistance with housing, food, water, medications and organizational needs.

  • The HIV Hurricane Relief Effort was set up through AIDS United’s Southern HIV Impact Fund in collaboration with the National Minority AIDS Council, and with funding from the Ford Foundation, Elton John AIDS Foundation, ViiV Healthcare and Gilead Sciences. The creation of this relief effort—along with a $1 million donation from HIV pharma giant Gilead—was announced from the stage of the United States Conference on AIDS in early September, shortly after Harvey and Irma struck. Visit AIDSUnited.org to make your own donation or to apply for a grant.
  • Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS awarded $575,000 in emergency relief to HIV groups, food banks and individuals working in the arts and entertainment fields. This included a $200,000 grant specifically for the Hispanic Federation to help first responders in Puerto Rico. 
  • The Campbell Foundation, a Florida-based nonprofit best known for funding nontraditional science-based research on HIV, donated $10,000 each to two Texas groups: AIDS Foundation Houston and the Montrose Center.