United Way of Essex & West Hudson Renews Grant Award

July 2007—For the third year United Way of Essex & West Hudson has renewed their grant award of $45,000 to support the 2007-2008 AIDS Community Education (A.C.E.) program. The mission of United Way’s HIV/AIDS initiative is to prevent the spread of the disease through education, outreach and awareness efforts, and develop a collaborative delivery system of treatment to improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS.

With the support of United Way, this program was started in 2005. The Broadway House A.C.E. program is an innovative educational model. The dedicated work of our HIV prevention education staff and trained resident presenters has built this program into a highly effective workshop. Each year Broadway House reaches more students with the message of making good decisions as a means of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Students often send notes to our speakers after visiting Broadway House. One youngster commented “You taught me a lot. Now I don’t have to worry about getting HIV. I know how to get it and how not to get it”. A fifth grader wrote, “What I learned today will help me make good decisions and think before I act. I will be able to tell others what I know so that they will also know about the true facts about AIDS”. Meeting residents who are living with the disease makes an impact unlike any other teaching method. The youngsters absorb the information and the encounter creates a lasting impression.

Along with providing students accurate information on HIV and educating them about high-risk behaviors, meeting individuals who are living with the disease helps to reduce the fear of this virus. This is evident in a letter from a recent program participant. One young boy said “the things I’ve learned are that when someone has HIV it does not make them a different person than you, so you should treat that person with the same respect that you would give someone else”. This program provides comprehensive education and promotes an understanding of the human aspect of the disease.

The funding provided by United Way of Essex and West Hudson is crucial to the existence of the A.C.E. program. This grant enables Broadway House to offer an interactive educational experience which makes an impact on the students. For more information about the United Way visit their website at www.uwewh.org. Anyone interested in learning more about the A.C.E. program can contact Joy Robinson, HIV Prevention Educator at Broadway House. She can be reached by telephone at 973 268-9797 or via e-mail at robinsj2@umdnj.edu.

Broadway House For Continuing Care - 298 Broadway Newark, New Jersey 07104 - (973) 268-9797