$1-million boost for HIV children

Patrina Pink, Gleaner Writer

A SANCTUARY for 76 children abandoned by family or orphaned by disease, the Dare to Care home, has been lauded for championing the cause of HIV-infected children. That project has been strengthened by a donation of more than $1 million from local bankers Capital and Credit Merchant Bank. The company recently donated all of the proceeds of its 'Pickney Christmas' concert held in December last year.

Administrators of the Mustard Seed Communities-founded home say this donation will go a far way to help them in their fight to dismantle obstacles and to give their wards as many educational and medical opportunities as possible. According to administrators, the average cost of caring for an HIV-infected child is roughly $50,000, but costs can go as high as $60,000 per month.

Costly daily needs

"Their daily needs are very expensive. For them to put on a concert each year is really thoughtful ... . Each year, we can look forward to $1 million at least. We have been very fortunate," said Donna Reynolds, a senior administrator at the home.

The home also benefits from a Ministry of Health and Global Fund programme that provides medication. However, Reynolds says that as the children age, treating the disease becomes more complex. She says that often, huge chucks of the home's funding go towards combating the side effects of anti-retroviral medication. Little is left to cover the children's schooling expenses.

The home is the first and only one in Jamaica dedicated solely to children living with HIV/AIDS.

Now in its ninth year, 'Pickney Christmas' has raised over $10 million. "Back in 2009, there was a dream and that snowballed into a reality - the entire company believes in this concert. It's a story of partnership, we couldn't have made it without partners," said senior vice-president of marketing, Michelle-Wilson Reynolds.

Wilson-Reynolds explained that Deloitte and Touche audits the event free of cost each year, and that her company also receives tremendous support from entertainment industry players like the Fab 5 band. The event is hosted at The Jamaica Pegasus, which is also a sponsor.

'Back in 2009, there was a dream and that snowballed into a reality - the entire company believes in this concert. It's a story of partnership. We couldn't have made it without partners.'