New
York, NY, DATE, 2007–Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. (SIA) concluded
it’s year long focus on HIV/AIDS entitled, the Red Ribbon Campaign. SIA’s campaign was a two phase plan taking place throughout
a one year period that benefits the AIDS cause through local and national
efforts raising over $16,000!!
Phase
I of the Red Ribbon Campaign taking place during the fall 2006 semester, raised
over $8,000 for Camp Heartland as part of the 3rd annual “Change for the Future” fundraising
drive. Camp Heartland is SIA’s national philanthropy
and directly benefits children/youth impacted by HIV/AIDS. Change for the Future commemorated World AIDS Day
(December 1) and honored and remembered those individuals living with
HIV/AIDS.
In
Phase II of the campaign, undergraduate and graduate members volunteered at
AIDS walks across the nation both walking and raising funds. The walks benefit different
organizations including, Center for
AIDS Research & Treatment, GMHC, AIDS for AIDS, Life Force:
Women Fighting AIDS, Inc., Children’s Hope Foundation and Hispanic AIDS
Forum. The organizations provide
educational and health resources, as well as support for men, women and
children who are infected and/or affected by the HIV/AIDS virus. In NY, AIDS Walk has become the world’s
largest AIDS fundraiser. Since
1986, AIDS Walk NY have raised over $90,000 and had over 47,000 walkers.
This year, hermanas
worked together to raise $8,300 for the cause! To help raise funds, chapters hosted networking events and
backyard cookouts. Hermanas worked
diligently to gather donations from family members, friends and
co-workers. With ambition and
drive, the initial goal of $1,000 was met and passed eight-fold.
"These efforts demonstrate that when you come together nationally for a common cause you can really make an impact", states Ivone De Jesus, National President.
Some important statistics:
Statistics
show that a drastically increasing number of Latinos are affected by the
HIV/AIDS epidemic. According to the Center for Disease Control, through 2001
over 115,000 Latino men and 26,000 Latina women have been diagnosed with AIDS.
Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report,
Year end Edition 2001.
The
estimated number of AIDS cases through 2005 for Hispanics was 156,026. In 2005, an estimated 9,893 women
contracted the HIV/AIDs virus.
Source:
Center for Disease Control, Statistics and Surveillance, 2007.
It is estimated
that 25% of those infected with HIV/AIDS are unaware of their diagnosis.
As of 2005,
minorities made up 71% of all new AIDS cases and 64% of people living with
AIDS.
Although
Hispanics only made up about 12% of the U.S. population in 2005, they accounted
for 19% of new AIDS cases that same year.
Women
accounted for 27% of new AIDS cases in 2005.
Source:
Kaiser Family, HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet, November 2006
About Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. (SIA):
SIA was founded in New York on September 29, 1990 by
thirteen Latina women with the purpose of creating an organization that would
help their communities, unite women, promote the Latino culture and uphold a
set of distinct goals. Our dedication to scholarship, service and
professional development within the Latino community has grown beyond New York,
with chapters in several states including: New Jersey, Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania, California, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland and Virginia.
We
are more than a sorority; we are a family and network of professional, strong
and dedicated women leaders. We are also a 501(c)7 tax-exempt organization and
we work in conjunction with the Solidaridad Inspiracion Amistad Community
Foundation, Inc.- a 501(c)3 Community Foundation committed to scholarship,
service and professional development within Latino communities nationally. Together, we administer a national
scholarship fund for incoming college freshmen who demonstrate academic merit,
service to communities in need and exemplary leadership capabilities. For more information, please visit www.hermandad-sia.org.
Contact: Tiara
Simmons
Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc.
vp-communications@hermandad-sia.org
www.hermandad-sia.org
