California: Santa Cruz Campaign Brings Together Businesses and People With HIV/AIDS

BizAid for AIDS, a county-wide AIDS support program in Santa Cruz, Calif., provides a way for businesses to support people with HIV/AIDS. Scott Roseman, co-owner of the Santa Cruz AIDS Project (SCAP) and the New Leaf Community Markets, developed BizAid 22 years ago so that businesses could commit either a percentage of sales or a specific amount to SCAP during the 10 days following Thanksgiving. The BizAid campaign runs from November 23 through December 2 and leads up to a gathering for World AIDS Day on December 1. World AIDS Day will be observed at the Pacific Cultural Center at 1307 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz, Calif., starting at 6 p.m.

Roseman declares that "BizAid for AIDS is a great way for our business community to come together to support a most worthy cause, and have a dramatic impact on what Santa Cruz AIDS Project can do to support those affected by HIV." SCAP representatives will be at New Leaf stores at various times during the campaign to talk about the ongoing need for support for people with HIV/AIDS. The list of New Leaf and additional participating businesses can be found at: www.scapsite.org/node/14.

Since July 2012, SCAP has been a part of the Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center and provides free support to people with HIV/AIDS, including access to counseling, medical care, and financial support. SCAP manages outreach prevention programs to high-risk populations to prevent the spread of HIV, STDs, and hepatitis. The two organizations collaborate to focus on direct services.

For more information about BizAid for AIDS, visit www.scapsite.org.

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