“Don’t let AIDS or whatever you have control your life. You control it. Do what you have to do. Take your meds. Perhaps you will live longer. Don’t be scared. You will be scared (sometimes], but you will be okay.”
Serving Children Living with HIV/AIDS in our Nation's Capital
Founder and Co-Chair Donna Choi
Co-Chair
Cindy Kim
Steering Committee
Candice So
Courtney Wingate
Makeda Saggau-Sackey
Megan Bartlett
For general and media inquiries, please contact us at charitydateauction@gmail.com
Charity Date Auction
to benefit Pediatric AIDS
The Charity Date Auction to benefit Pediatric AIDS
will be taking an interim break during 2011.
During this time, we look forward to revisiting our strategy in order to best serve the needs of children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in our nation's capital. Please stay tuned for exciting opportunities
to get involved with us in the near future!
Driven by a desire to raise support and awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Washington, DC, Donna Choi decided to create an independently-run fundraiser in 2007 that has blossomed into one of DC’s premiere fundraising events for pediatric AIDS, with former/current sponsors: American fashion designer Marc Jacobs, Aeris Model Management, Black Entertainment Television (BET), celebrity chef José Andrés, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, SKYY Vodka/Campari, and many other generous supporters.
The Charity Date Auction to benefit Pediatric AIDS is a 100% volunteer and grassroots fundraiser that raises its monies through an annual charitable event, planned and produced with 0% overhead expenditure-everything is donated by corporate/business sponsors and individuals, including, but not limited to, the event space, the entertainment, and donations in-kind for our auctioned date events and silent auction items. Through the tremendous efforts of our steering committee, auctionees, sponsors, guests, and on-line supporters, together, we have raised more than $48,000 for local-area children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care, Inc. (Pediatric Care) is a non-profit organization centered on preserving, assisting, and strengthening children (ages 5 through 18) living with HIV/AIDS in the metropolitan Washington, DC area so that they can achieve their fullest potential.
Pediatric Care is the annual beneficiary of the Charity Date Auction to benefit Pediatric AIDS.
Update from Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care Board Chair - August 29, 2011
Dear Supporters, Colleagues & Community Partners:
After much thought, careful consideration and regrets, the Board of Directors of Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care, Inc. decided to suspend all programs effective Monday, August 15, 2011 due to serious financial hardships we’ve faced. As you can imagine this was a very difficult decision to make, but a practical one given the circumstances and the responsibility we carry with our families. Although sad, we believe our organization’s mission to have been accomplished, as many babies are not being born with HIV anymore and funding is increasingly becoming more difficult to access due to this amazing achievement. In the District of Columbia last year, only one baby was born with HIV.
When we opened our doors in 1986, it was simply to hold little “AIDS babies” that were being born in Washington, DC, in hospitals where mothers and overworked nurses could not hold their babies being born with HIV. So, we started a nascent organization seeking volunteers who could give their time to share with these babies the gift of human touch. As the virus evolved, so did we, and the organization grew into a sustainable non profit organization providing case management and art therapy services as well as afterschool programming for families infected and affected with HIV/AIDS.
We would like to thank our staff, volunteers, community partners, donors/supporters and of course, our families and children. All of you have believed in us through the years and allowed us to accomplish such amazing and special work in the areas of mental health, HIV/AIDS and after school programming – all with the goal of helping our children and families live normal, rich lives. In following with this commitment, we are working closely with our community partners to ensure a seamless transition for our families and children.
There have been very few organizations that have accomplished their mission and have seen their vision realized - Pediatric Care can! With our mission being fulfilled, we are passing the torch to community partners so that they may continue to provide quality services to children and families affected and infected with HIV/AIDS. We have so many of you, our supporters, to thank and we ask that you continue to give of your time and financial resources to help these partner organizations fulfill their missions so that no one in this country will have to live with, or be born with HIV/AIDS in our lifetime.
Please feel free to contact us at arigoli@pediatricaidshivcare.org should you have any questions or concerns. Thank you again for all your support.
Sincerely,
Bryan Gauch
Board Chair
Together, we have raised more than $48,000 for children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in metropolitan DC.
