[1991 Annual Report, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research]

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Throughout the year, ASAP representatives presented more than 50 workshops or
seminars in religious settings, appeared on more than 75 religious media outlets, and
provided resources to more than 750 churches and congregation members nationwide. In
keeping with the goals of the cooperative agreement, ASAP's focus on the religious community will continue at the same level, building on the foundation of the first two
years, continuing to educate, equip and engage the religious community in stopping the
spread of HIV and caring for those it affects.
Children's Assistance Fund
1991 was a banner year for ASAP's Children's Assistance Fund. Started in 1988, the
fund grew quietly, helping families ASAP met through speaking engagements around the
nation. Faithful contributors provided funding for emergency assistance and holiday
gifts, providing enough support for the fund to steadily increase the number of client
families.
Through new funding sources and networks, the Children's Fund more than
quadrupled its number of client families by the year's end, bringing the cumulative total
to approximately 2,500. A pilot program for involving businesses, churches, and individuals in the holiday gift program was so successful it will be fully initiated in 1992.
That involved groups across the country taking responsibility for acquiring presents and
sending them directly to local contacts serving ASAP's client base. The cost savings or
contribution equivalent was in excess of twenty thousand dollars. This program will be
expanded at least four-fold in the coming year.
New health-care facilities and community-based organizations served through the
fund provided positive feedback about the program, its efficiency, responsiveness and
availability. Groups served through the Children's Fund include: Albert Einstein College
of Medicine, the New York City Health Department, the Missouri State Health Department, Bronx Lebanon Hospital, State University of New York Pediatric AIDS Program
(Bronx), Children's Hospital in Milwaukee, Jackson Memorial Hospital Pediatric HIV
Program, Nevada AIDS Network, University of South Florida Pediatric AIDS Program,
People of Color Coalition Against AIDS, St. Mary's Medical Center (Long Beach),
Oakland Children's Hospital, The Bridge for Kids (San Francisco), Valley AIDS Network (Virginia), Cook County Hospital (Chicago), and Chicago's Children's Hospital.
During 1991, two proposals were presented to the Children's Fund to draw media
attention to the issue of children orphaned by the epidemic. ASAP staff hopes to pursue
both of these in 1992 to further enhance the visibility and, hence, the capability of the
fund to serve families which are currently under-served.