Gilead Sciences Announces $3 Mn in Grant Funding to Organizations Addressing HIV

Gilead Sciences, Inc.  today announced a total of $3 million in grant funding to eight organizations to provide services to communities in rural areas of the United States that are disproportionately impacted by HIV. My Brother’s Keeper, based in Ridgeland, Mississippi, will assist the organizations funded through this initiative with technical assistance and capacity building. These grants are part of Gilead’s ongoing Zeroing InTM program, which supports organizations working to improve the overall health and wellness of communities most impacted by the HIV epidemic.

While HIV is prevalent in both urban and rural communities in the United States, resources are heavily concentrated in urban areas, and a lack of public health infrastructure and increased stigma in rural areas create barriers to necessary care. The grantees were chosen by Gilead because of their strategic, community-driven approaches to removing systemic barriers that prevent people in rural communities from accessing quality HIV testing and treatment. With this investment, Zeroing In rural health equity and advancement organizations will continue to strengthen public health infrastructure, address HIV-related stigma, and provide critical resources to underserved populations.

“Gilead is proud to go where the need is greatest and to continue to support organizations working to provide integral services to rural communities in the United States that have long struggled to receive HIV care,” said Jane Stafford, Executive Director, Public Affairs, Gilead Sciences. “These grants will enable organizations to expand their testing programs, provide resources to their communities, and combat stigma by promoting a culture of compassion and inclusion. Ending the HIV epidemic requires more than just medicine, and by assisting these organizations, we are increasing their capacity to educate communities, change perceptions, and provide critical access to healthcare where it is most needed.”

Gilead Sciences

Gilead’s eight Zeroing Grantees for rural health equity and advancement include:

Carolina Alliance of AIDS Services (Raleigh, North Carolina)

Friends of Central Illinois, Inc. (Peoria, Illinois)

Atlanta Compassionate Inc. (Atlanta, Georgia)

Transgender Empowerment Services Inc. (Hampton, Virginia)

Providing Ongoing Effective Support to Everyone Inc. (Columbia, Louisiana)

My Brother’s Keeper Foundation, Inc. (Ridgeland, Mississippi)

AIDS Foundation of Pierce County (Tacoma, Washington)

Virginia Power Safe Place Resource Center (Front Royal, Virginia)

“My Brother’s Keeper is thrilled to be able to provide needed capacity building assistance to recipients of Gilead’s Zeroing In rural health equity and advancement grants,” said June Gipson, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of My Brother’s Keeper. “Providing equal access to and utilization of HIV prevention, care, and supportive services in rural communities is a critical step in combating inequity in HIV health outcomes. Gilead has long been at the forefront of addressing structural and social barriers to HIV care and treatment, and we are excited to collaborate with them to make a difference.”

The Gilead Zeroing In grant program, which will be launched in 2021, will provide funding to organizations whose programs aim to improve the overall health and wellness of HIV-affected communities.

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