Liberia; Democratic Republic of Congo: Google Awards $4 Million to San Rafael HIV Prevention Non-Profit

A California non-profit is able to expand its HIV prevention efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia, courtesy of a $4 million holiday grant from Google.

San Rafael-based Global Strategies for HIV Prevention focuses on reducing vertical transmission of HIV, providing pediatric HIV care, and caring for rape victims to prevent transmission of the disease.

"We see a lot of rape victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo," said Elizabeth Lincoln, Global Strategies' executive director. "Historically, it's been difficult to provide HIV intervention in a conflict zone, and that's really where our passion comes from is trying to work in places where other people aren't. We choose some of the more dangerous and poor areas," she said.

Global Strategies typically raises $500,000 each year in grants and donations. The 12-year-old organization likely will spread out the Google funds over several years, Lincoln said.

The donation to Global Strategies is part of $20 million given out this holiday season from Google's sales team. The funds are directed to "charities that are working tirelessly to meet increased need with decreased funding," Google spokesperson Jamie Yood said in an e-mail.

Dr. David Ho, a pioneer in the development of HIV therapy who is now head of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York, applauded the gift. "We are committed to finding scientific solutions to end the AIDS epidemic and working with foundations such as Global Strategies to apply them to resource-poor regions of the world," Ho said in a statement. "The Google Inc. grant will provide the much-needed support to bring these advances to previously neglected areas."

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