For Immediate Release: June 22, 2004
Media Contact: Micki Leventhal, 312-344-7383
NOTE: Ana Maria Soto, director of Latino Cultural Affairs is available to speak with the media.
(Chicago IL) The Latino student organization of Columbia College Chicago and the school's office of Institutional Advancement will join together to donate $700 to Vida/SIDA (Life/AIDS), a community-based outreach program dedicated to providing HIV/AIDS and STD prevention education through peer-to-peer education. The 16-year-old Chicago organization is in jeopardy due to a recent decrease in federal funding.
"Columbia students raised $350," says Ana Maria Soto, director of the college's office of Latino cultural affairs. "Vida/SIDA's programs have been so effective and important in the community, our students wanted to help in any way they could."
"Both the Latino community and the GLBT [Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender] are very well represented at Columbia, and contribute greatly to the vibrant diversity that defines us as an urban institution" says Nelson Boyette, executive director of constituent relations. "We want to support those communities and that's why we chose to match the contribution raised by our student organization. We hope to do much more in the future to outreach to, and support, both constituencies."
Vida/SIDA will benefit from a performance by Ballets de San Juan at Clemente High School, Friday, June 18. Congressmen Luis V. Gutierrez will host a donor's reception that evening. For more information on the performance and reception call 773-278-6737 or visit www.vidasida.org