Religious Leaders Join Forces with Physicians and Pharmaceutical Leader to Provide Care for HIV-infected Children in HIV/AIDS-devastated Sub-Saharan AFRICA

Among invited prominent religious leaders and representatives are: the Rev. Jesse Jackson (PUSH/Rainbow
Coalition), the Hon. Minister Louis Farrakhan (The Nation of Islam), His Eminence Francis Cardinal George
(Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago), Rabbi Ira Youdovin (Chicago Board of Rabbis), The Very Rev.
Archimandrite Demetri C. Kantzavelos (Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago), Bishop William Persell (Episcopal
Diocese of Chicago), Rev. Paul Rutgers (Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago), Rev. Willie Taplin
Barrow (Church of God), Bishop Joseph Sprague (United Methodist Church), Dr. Helen Bishop (Unitarian
Universalist/ Midwest District), The Rev. Dr./Presiding Elder David C. Coleman, Jr. (American Methodist Episcopal
Church-Chicago Conference), Asayo Horibe (Buddhist Council of the Midwest), The Most Rev.Timothy Lyne
(Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago), Imam W. Deen Mohammed (Muslim American Mission), Bishop
Kenneth R. Olsen (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America/Metropolitan Chicago Synod), The Rev. Jim Queen
(Chicago Metropolitan Baptist Association), Presiding Elder Wilfred Reid (North District American Methodist
Episcopal Church), The Rev. Dr. Robert C. Reynolds (Presbytery of Chicago), Dr. Talal Sunbulli (Council of Islamic
Organizations of Greater Chicago), Ann Castleton (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), Bishop Ocie Booker
(Church of God in Christ), Rev. Dr. Clay Evans (Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church), The Rev. Dr. Leon Finney
(Christ Church), Bishop Cody Marshall (Illinois Church of God in Christ), The Rev. B. Herbert Martin (Progressive
Community Church), Rohinton Rivetna (Federation of Zorastrian Association of North America), Swami
Varadananda (Vivekananda Vedanta Society), and James Yellowbank (Anawim American Indian Center).
"We have a moral obligation to work together and help children living in resource-limited settings and particularly
those afflicted with preventable life-threatening diseases, including HIV/AIDS," said Jose M. Zuniga, President of the
10,000 member-strong IAPAC. "Through God Bless the Child and this innovative partnership, we intend to provide
children living with HIV/AIDS with the same level of care we in developed nations take for granted."
"Religious communities in developed countries have a strong interest to protect sick and vulnerable children living in
impoverished surroundings," said Allen Freehling, Senior Rabbi at University Synagogue, in Los Angeles, California,
and Chairman of IAPAC's Board of Trustees. "God Bless the Child provides hope for the HIV-infected children of
Africa by offering the missing support and care they desperately need."
Through God Bless the Child communities of faith may "adopt" a child for US$1000, which will then be combined
with professional care from community hospitals and pharmaceutical treatment funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb's
Secure the Future initiative. Bristol-Myers Squibb has committed $5.0 million in funding for the program.
"God Bless the Child recognizes the infinite value of human life," stated Kenneth Weg, Vice Chairman, Bristol-Myers
Squibb. "This innovative partnership will serve as a model for extending and enhancing the lives of children infected
by HIV/AIDS in Africa and the developing world."
God Bless the Child seeks to raise an initial $250,000 from communities of faith to launch a program aimed at benefiting up to 500 Botswanan children living with HIV/AIDS. In turn, Bristol-Myers Squibb will match these funds with
an additional $250,000 and the commitment to provide continuing access to anti-HIV drug therapy and care for
each sponsored Botswanan child. In the months preceding today's announcement, Rabbi Freehling's University
Synagogue committed initial funding in support of the program.
Botswana Model Program to Treat 500 Children with HIV/AIDS
Botswana is among the most affected African nations with up to 17 percent of its 1.5 million population estimated to
be HIV positive. AIDS is the largest cause of death in Botswana with most deaths occurring among the young.
In the Botswana God Bless the Child pilot, Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, Botswana, and the Baylor
International Pediatric AIDS Initiative at the Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston,
Texas, will collaborate on the initiative. Each child will receive comprehensive care and support, including combination therapy with antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.

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