Elton John Aids Foundation Inc

ENSURING ALL HAVE INFORMATION, MEANS AND ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE TO END THE AIDS EPIDEMIC

AT THE ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION, INC., WE BELIEVE THAT AIDS CAN BE BEATEN. SINCE 1992, WE HAVE WORKED TO OVERCOME THE STIGMA, DISCRIMINATION AND NEGLECT THAT KEEPS US FROM ENDING AIDS, FIGHTING ALONGSIDE COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS ARE FULFILLED AND THAT COUNTRIES EQUITABLY INVEST IN THEIR HEALTH. THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS SIMPLE: TO BE A POWERFUL FORCE IN THE END TO THE AIDS EPIDEMIC. WE ARE COMMITTED TO NO MORE DISCRIMINATION. NO MORE HIV INFECTIONS. NO MORE AIDS DEATHS. NO MATTER WHO OR WHERE YOU ARE. EJAF INC. WORKS WITH A RANGE OF SUPPORTERS AND PARTNERS TO ACHIEVE THE SYSTEMIC CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL CHANGES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING AN AIDS-FREE FUTURE. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION.IN 2020, WE EMBARKED ON AN EXCITING NEW STRATEGIC PLAN, DESIGNED TO REDUCE HIV TRANSMISSION, ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO COMPASSIONATE CARE AND TREATMENT AND THAT GOVERNMENTS INVEST EQUITABLY IN THOSE POPULATIONS MOST AFFECTED BY HIV. THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUSES ON REACHING THE MOST MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SO OFTEN LEFT BEHIND AND EXCLUDED FROM MAINSTREAM HIV RESPONSE EFFORTS. EJAF INC.'S AREAS OF STRATEGIC FOCUS INCLUDE YOUNG PEOPLE, LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND QUEER (LGBTQ+) COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS, AND IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHERE EPIDEMIC CONTROL HAS STILL NOT BEEN UNIFORMLY ACHIEVED. DURING 2021, ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION INC. AWARDED $9,295,329 OF GRANTS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES MOST AFFECTED BY HIV AND FOCUSED ON THE BELOW AREAS.YOUNG PEOPLE: TOO OFTEN, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CONFRONTED BY A LACK OF VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR HIV RISK; SERVICES THAT ARE HARD TO REACH OR NOT DESIGNED WITH THEM IN MIND; AND SOCIAL NORMS RESTRICTING THEIR ABILITY TO GET THE HELP THEY NEED. AT ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION INC., WE CHAMPION THE RIGHT OF ALL YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO CARE, SERVICES, AND RELEVANT AND ACCURATE INFORMATION WHEREVER THEY ARE, FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION AND STIGMA. TO THAT END, EJAF INC. HAS DEVELOPED A PORTFOLIO OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO BREAK DOWN EXISTING BARRIERS AND PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT ARE CONFIDENTIAL, CONVENIENT, AND CHOICE-DRIVEN. PLEASE SEE AN OVERVIEW OF THREE FLAGSHIP GRANTS THE FOUNDATION AWARDED IN 2021 THROUGH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE PORTFOLIO: ZIPLINE: AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO BRING CARE DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITHOUT PLACING AN UNDUE BURDEN ON THEIR LIVES, IN 2021 EJAF INC. PARTNERED WITH AN ON-DEMAND DRONE DELIVERY COMPANY, ZIPLINE, IN WESTERN KENYA. TOGETHER WE WILL PUT HEALTH PRODUCTS DIRECTLY IN THE HANDS OF YOUTH, AVOIDING MANY OF THE BARRIERS TO CARE THAT CURRENTLY EXIST. FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, HEALTH CLINICS ARE HARD TO REACH, EXPENSIVE, OFTEN PROVIDE INAPPROPRIATE RETROFITTED ADULT OR PEDIATRIC CARE AND ARE RUN BY DISCRIMINATORY PERSONNEL.TRIGGERISE: IN 2021, EJAF INC. PARTNERED WITH TRIGGERISE TO EXPAND THE IN THEIR HANDS MODEL IN KENYA. IN THEIR HANDS IS A MOBILE-BASED PLATFORM THAT EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE TO DECIDE IF, WHEN, AND WHERE TO ACCESS SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES, GIVING THEM CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN HEALTH CHOICES. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH TRIGGERISE, WE ARE EXPANDING THE MODEL BEYOND ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN TO ALSO REACH YOUNG MEN AND TO ALSO INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS AND SERVICES. META AND PRAEKELT: IN 2021, EJAF INC. PARTNERED WITH META AND PRAEKELT, A SOUTH AFRICA-BASED APP CREATOR, WHATSAPP WILL HOST A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PRIVATE DIGITAL FORUM, IN WHICH SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH CAN CONFIDENTIALLY ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT SENSITIVE TOPICS AND LEARN FROM DIVERSE AND ENGAGING FORMS OF EDUTAINMENT, RANGING FROM VIDEO CLIPS TO QUIZZES TO CHATBOTS. YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE WHAT THEY LEARN AND ACCESS SERVICES AND PRODUCTS THROUGH ONLINE AND OFFLINE PROVIDERS OF THEIR CHOOSING. UNITED STATES : BREAKTHROUGH: IN THE U.S., AN ESTIMATED 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE LIVING WITH HIV. 14% OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE UNAWARE THEY'RE INFECTED, AND, OF THOSE DIAGNOSED, 42% ARE NOT RECEIVING CONSISTENT CARE. WHAT'S MORE, THIS SIGNIFICANT GAP IN TESTING AND CARE IS WIDEST AMONG PEOPLE OF RACIAL AND SEXUAL MINORITIES. IN THE SOUTH, MORE THAN A QUARTER OF ANNUAL NEW DIAGNOSES OCCUR AMONG BLACK GAY, BISEXUAL AND OTHER MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN, AND AN ESTIMATED 44% OF BLACK TRANSGENDER WOMEN ARE LIVING WITH HIV. TO ADDRESS THESE PRONOUNCED HEALTH INEQUITIES, WE'VE DEVELOPED A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT FOCUS ON REMOVING BARRIERS TO DIAGNOSIS AND CARE THROUGH DIRECT COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, AS WELL AS PUSHING FOR ENDURING SYSTEMIC CHANGE THROUGH NEW POLICIES AND LAWS. IN 2021, EJAF INC. LAUNCHED BREAKTHROUGH; A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH WALMART THAT AIMS TO HELP ADDRESS THE HIV EPIDEMIC IN THE U.S. TOGETHER, WE WANT TO BUILD QUALITY HIV CONTINUUM OF CARE ACROSS THE U.S., PRIORITIZING COMMUNITIES IN GREATEST NEED OF SERVICES AND SUPPORT, TO BOLSTER NATIONAL EFFORTS TO END THE EPIDEMIC IN THE U.S. BY 2030. PLEASE FIND THE OBJECTIVES OF BREAKTHROUGH PROGRAM LISTED BELOW: 1. ENHANCE HEALTH WORKFORCE CAPABILITIES TO PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE CARE AND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PREVENT HIV INFECTION2. INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY OF AND DEMAND FOR HIV PREVENTION AND TESTING COMMODITIES 3. STRENGTHEN LINKAGE TO CARE WITHIN COMMUNITIES4. PARTICIPATE IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLICY CHANGE TO ADDRESS STRUCTURAL BARRIERS THAT INHIBIT ACCESS TO AND UPTAKE OF HIV PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND CARE SERVICES IN THE U.S.FUND FOR RESILIENCE, EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT (FREE): FOR SEVERAL YEARS EJAF INC. HAS INVESTED IN ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO ADDRESS THE HIGH PREVALENCE OF HIV IN BLACK COMMUNITIES OF GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN AND TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUAL IN THE U.S. IN 2021, EJAF INC. CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE U.S. THROUGH THE FREE FUND. THE FREE INITIATIVE AIMS TO SUPPORT HOLISTIC APPROACHES TO HIV PREVENTION AND CARE THAT INCORPORATE INTERSECTING ISSUES INCLUDING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUITIES. THE FUND IS DEDICATED TO CHANGING THE COURSE OF THE HIV EPIDEMIC IN TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND BLACK GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN. THE FUND PARTICULARLY FOCUSES ON THE SOUTHERN STATES OF THE U.S., WHERE STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION CONTINUE TO HAMPER PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO HIV PREVENTION AS WELL AS TESTING AND TREATMENT SERVICES, FUELING NEW INFECTIONS. ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION INC. AND IT'S PARENT ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORT GRANT-MAKING ACTIVITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS, LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES, AND IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA. PLEASE SEE AN OVERVIEW OF THESE PORTFOLIOS BELOW: PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS: PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS ARE 29 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO ACQUIRE HIV THAN THOSE AMONG THE GENERAL POPULATION. THE CRIMINALIZATION AND PUNISHMENT OF PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS MEANS THAT ACCESS TO LIFESAVING HEALTH AND HARM REDUCTION SERVICES ARE SEVERELY LIMITED FOR SO MANY AROUND THE WORLD. EJAF INC. IS WORKING TO TACKLE THE CRIMINALIZATION AND DISCRIMINATION THAT PUT PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS AT ELEVATED RISK OF HIV. OUR PARTNERS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL HIV AND HARM REDUCTION SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS ON THREE CONTINENTS. WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT ALL COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS ARE SUPPORTED, INCLUDING WOMEN, ADOLESCENTS, AND LGBTQ+ PEOPLE. LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES: HIV CONTINUES TO DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE. ACCORDING TO THE JOINT UNITED NATIONS PROGRAM ON HIV/AIDS, TRANSGENDER WOMEN HAVE A 34 TIMES GREATER RISK OF ACQUIRING HIV THAN OTHER ADULTS, AND GAY MEN AND OTHER MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN ARE AT 25 TIMES GREATER RISK OF ACQUIRING HIV THAN HETEROSEXUAL ADULT MEN. THESE RISKS ARE EXACERBATED BY STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION, CRIMINALIZING LAWS AND OTHER STRUCTURAL BARRIERS THAT CREATE A CLIMATE OF FEAR AND EXPLOITATION AND RESTRICT ACCESS TO VITAL HIV SERVICES. MOREOVER, MILLIONS OF LGBTQ+ PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ARE DENIED HIV PREVENTION SERVICES, TESTING, AND TREATMENT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE, WHO THEY LOVE AND WHERE THEY LIVE. WE ARE STAUNCHLY COMMITTED TO CHALLENGING LAWS AND NORMS THAT EXCLUDE THIS COMMUNITY FROM ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE BY FUNDING PROGRAMS PROVIDING CARE IN AN INCLUSIVE AND NON-DISCRIMINATORY WAY. EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA (EECA): EECA HAS THE FASTEST-GROWING HIV EPIDEMIC IN THE WORLD. THE ANNUAL NUMBER OF NEW HIV INFECTIONS INCREASED BY AN ESTIMATED 43% FROM 2010 TO 2020, WHILE OVERARCHINGLY, CASES DECLINED GLOBALLY. ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION IS THE LARGEST PHILANTHROPIC FUNDER OF HIV PROGRAMMING IN THE REGION, AND IS COMMITTED TO REVERSING THIS TREND AND ENSURING THE REGION IS NOT LEFT BEHIND. WE DO THIS BY INVESTING IN COMMUNITY-LED, INNOVATIVE, AND SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMMING THAT DELIVERS COMPASSIONATE AND QUALITY CARE WIDELY TO MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING RADIAN, ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION'S GROUND-BREAKING INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GILEAD SCIENCES TO END THE EPIDEMIC.