How to Support AIDS Research

AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It is a disease that attacks the immune system and destroys the cells that fight off illnesses. People with AIDS are highly at risk for serious--even fatal--diseases known as opportunistic infections. There is no cure for AIDS, but thanks to intensive research and new treatments people with AIDS are living longer, healthier lives. Read on to learn how to support AIDS research.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pocket change
• AIDS research charity of your choice

Find AIDS Research Organizations

1. Use a website such as Charity Navigator to identify the four-star AIDS research organizations. This will help you select your causes. See the Resources section below for a link.

2. Call your local AIDS service organization and ask if it is aware of any local AIDS researchers who could use financial support.

3. Remember that most organizations doing AIDS research also promote community education and provide services to clients. If you want your money to be used only for research, be sure to make it clear to the organization when you make your donation.

Support AIDS Research

4. Remove the change from your pocket every day and put it in a special place. At the end of the year, take the change to your bank and convert it into a check or money order to send to your favorite AIDS research charity.

5. Ask friends and family to donate to this charity in lieu of buying you birthday and Christmas presents. Keep it light, but explain why AIDS research is so important to you. For instance, "Mom, I don't need another tie, but a cure for AIDS? Now that would be a terrific present!"

6. Organize some friends and plan a special event, anything from an eBay garage sale to a black tie dinner to an art auction. All proceeds will go to benefit your charity of choice.

7. Gather sponsors and participate in your local AIDS walk, if you are healthy enough to do so. To find an AIDS walk near you, check out the National AIDS Walk Directory. See the Resources section below for a link.

8. Write a will, listing the AIDS research organization as one of your beneficiaries.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are seriously ill or dying, ask your friends and family to continue to support the AIDS research charity of your choice in your memory.
• Don't be scammed into giving to bogus charities. Before you whip out that checkbook, look the charity up on Charity Navigator or speak to your local AIDS service organization. If no one has heard of them, they are probably not legitimate.
• Some fake charities use names that sound close to the names of respected groups to fool you into giving up your money. Never commit to donating over the phone. Instead, ask them to send you written information.

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Resources

• Charity Navigator for AIDS Research Organizations
• The National AIDS Walk Directory

on 3/10/2008 good article

[RFerriANP]

on 3/10/2008 Thank you for this article. HIV/AIDS giving is down. This may due to face the HIV/AIDS has fallen off the front pages of the news and people assume everything is undercontrol. It is not. There are 40 million people world-wide living with this disease that need every thing from basic clean water to drink to the more advanced therapies. Please give.

[Olorin]

on 12/1/2007 Very cool. I'm thrilled someone wrote this and even more so that it was a eHow of the day. Great stuff!

[favefive]

on 12/1/2007 Very informative. Thanks!

[bmi57]

on 12/1/2007 Thank you for the information.