Philly AIDS Thrift Announces Over $300,000 in New Grants to 27 Local Organizations
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Philly AIDS Thrift is pleased to award $300,035 this spring to 27 organizations and programs focused on HIV prevention and care, as well as support for people living with HIV/AIDS in the Delaware Valley. Philadelphia's largest thrift store and non-profit organization has turned yesterday's treasures into $3,691,813 over the organization's 16 years to support Philadelphia regional organizations on the frontline of the HIV/AIDS crisis. This support is more important than ever as non-profits throughout Philadelphia and across the country have been challenged financially during the continued global pandemic. The annual grant program by Philly AIDS Thrift started back in 2014 as another way to serve the community, and it has continued even during the COVID crisis. The next request for grant proposals will take place towards the end of 2022. For more information about grant awards, donations or how to get involved, please visit www.phillyaidsthrift.com or call 215-922-3186.
“The staff, volunteers, and Board at Philly AIDS Thrift could not be more honored to surpass our previous high, in dollars granted in a single RFP & our overall total of $3.6 million dollars granted. Especially at this moment when these incredible organizations, doing amazing work are being challenged by the COVID-19 Pandemic. We are so grateful,” said Philly AIDS Thrift Board President, Michael Bryne.
“It is amazing to all of us that we have surpassed the milestone of giving away over $3.6 million dollars since our inception,” said PAT Co-founder/Manager Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou. “We could not do it without our generous donors and enthusiastic shoppers. Our staff and volunteers work very hard every day to make sure that we can make the biggest difference possible in the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS across the Delaware Valley.”
Grant Recipients:
Action Wellness
AIDS Delaware
AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania
AIM Angels In Motion
Attic Youth Center
Bebashi -Transition to Hope
Black and Latinx Community Control
Camp Dreamcatcher, Inc.
Colours Organization
Comite de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agricolas - CATA
Drexel University – Camp Bright Feathers
Drexel University - Dorothy Mann Center
Family Service of Chester County
Family Services
LGBT Elder Initiative
Mazzoni Center
Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA)
RHD Morris Home
Neighborhoods United Against Drugs / Urban Affairs Coalition
One Day At A Time/Urban Affairs Coalition
Planned Parenthood Keystone
Prevention Meets Fashion Inc
Prevention Point Philadelphia
Safehouse
Siloam Wellness
SOL Collective
William Way LGBT Community Center
Here are a few examples of the award winners and their programs:
Comite de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agricolas (CATA)
HIV Prevention Program - assists in providing the HIV prevention program to the farmworker community and low-wage Latino immigrant community in southern New Jersey (NJ). The purpose of CATA’s HIV prevention program is to implement a comprehensive and effective community-based HIV prevention program that will increase the target populations’ awareness of their HIV status by providing evidence-based behavioral interventions and strategies, promoting condom use, and linkages to HIV testing, medical care and treatment, medication, Partner Services, PrEP, and other emergent needs. Coordination and collaboration with other organizations and service providers will facilitate access to needed linkages that will assist in effectively reducing the target populations’ high-risk behavior for acquiring and/or transmitting HIV, Hepatitis and other STD’s.
LGBT Elder Initiative
The Thrivers Program - This program series, now offered virtually, supports older adults living with HIV to access resources, peer support, and educational content. Thrivers programs help participants to reduce isolation, form stronger social support networks, and connect with resources and services to meet their healthcare, financial, psychological, social, and emotional needs.
William Way LGBT Community Center
Programming for the Arcila-Adams Trans Resource Center (TRC) will 1) provide PrEP education through partnership with local healthcare providers providing prevention education including Einstein Health, Mazzoni Center and Chop; 2) provide 2x monthly support groups facilitated by people of lived experience; and 3) provide monthly health and wellness workshops overseen by outside facilitators discussing topics and practices such as yoga, personal Training, voice therapy, and diabetes education.
For background on this year's grant awards, all funding and services are made possible from a unique business model, Philly AIDS Thrift, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that collects donated books, household items, fashions, toys, decorations and other useful (and sometimes mysterious items) and resells these donations through two retail operations. The main retail space at 710 S. 5th Street features thousands of items on three floors in the heart of South Street Headhouse District. The second retail operation, Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room, features thrift items and new books—continuing the legacy of Giovanni’s bookstore. Proceeds from all of PAT’s operations have continued to grow, and the organization has given away over $3.6 million dollars to the community.
As nice weather and spring-cleaning time of the year approaches, the announcement of these grants is also a well-timed reminder to consider making donations to Philly AIDS Thrift and Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room. Donations to Philly AIDS Thrift this spring and summer will turn into sales that will help shape the dollar amount giving in future grant cycles.
The next round of funding for grants will open at the end of 2022 for the grant awards.
For more information on Philly AIDS Thrift and Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room, please visit phillyaidsthrift.com or queerbooks.com.
ABOUT PHILLY AIDS THRIFT
Founded in 2005, Philadelphia AIDS Thrift is incorporated in Pennsylvania as a non-profit business and is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. The organization’s mission is to support those living with HIV/AIDS through the operation of their fabulous retail thrift stores. Since its founding, the organization has donated more than $3,600,000, funding programs focused on HIV prevention and care and support of people living with HIV/AIDS.
In 2014, the organization took over the operation of Giovanni’s Room, the oldest LGBT bookstore in the nation, renaming it Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room. Integrating their thrift store model into the business while continuing carrying new and used LGBTQ materials, Philly AIDS Thrift was able to purchase the building in 2018—securing the legacy of the historic bookstore for future generations.
Since developing an internal grants process in 2014, Philly AIDS Thrift has given away $1,636,105 in grants.
Both stores are run with support from amazing volunteers and with donations from the public for thrift items to sell and the shoppers that buy those items.
In addition to cash contributions, Philly AIDS Thrift provides free store vouchers to Philly area HIV/AIDS service providers for distribution to clients in need of clothing assistance and household necessities.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Philly AIDS Thrift
710 S. 5th Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215.922.3186
phillyaidsthrift.com
Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room
345 S. 12th Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215.923.2960
queerbooks.com
