For the past three decades, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has been raising money to fight HIV/AIDS through many of its philanthropic initiatives. The latest donation comes in the form of a $500,000 grant by the CFDA's Love Ball III with nightlife fixture Susanne Bartsch and MAC Cosmetics' VIVA GLAM Fund. The news was announced on December 1st during World AIDS Day.
The grant is being distributed to eight organizations identified in conjunction with the New York Community Trust, which were selected for their work with queer people of color that are living with HIV/AIDS, including the Ballroom Community. Love Ball III, which was held during World Pride in June and was hosted by Billy Porter, was revived as the third iteration of the first two Love Balls in 1989 and 1991, which funded over $2.5 million to programs for those affected by HIV/AIDS.
See below for a complete list of the organizations receiving the Love Ball grant, as well as what they plan to do with the funds.
- Ali Forney Center: To provide hot meals to LGBTQ+ youth at the Center's Harlem drop-in center who are part of the House Ballroom Community and at risk of HIV/AIDS.
- Anti-Violence Project: To strengthen services to survivors of violence and/or those at risk of HIV/AIDS who are part of the House Ballroom Community.
- Audre Lorde Project: For leadership development and grassroots organizing campaign training to address HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment for members of the House Ballroom Community.
- Brooklyn Community Pride Center: To provide paid training and internships for members of the House Ballroom Community impacted by HIV/AIDS.
- Callen-Lorde Community Health Center: To provide sensitive, culturally-competent healthcare to members of the House Ballroom Community through the Health Outreach to Teens (HOTT) program.
- Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC): For the House of Latex Project, an HIV/AIDS prevention program that targets young people from the House Ballroom Community.
- Hetrick-Martin Institute: To expand the work of the Kiki Coalition, a program that provides HIV/AIDS testing, prevention, and treatment services to members of the House Ballroom Community.
- The HEAT Program at SUNY: To strengthen the House Parties Youth Advocacy project, a health and mental health program for Brooklyn youth of color ages 13 to 24 with or at risk of HIV/AIDS and part of the House Ballroom Community.
Photo via BFA