By Matt Simonette

BEHIV receives Illinois education grant
Better Existence with HIV announced last week that it is the recipient of a $50,000 Illinois State Board of Education grant to fund HIV Prevention presentations in local schools.

BEHIV’s Education Outreach program conducts comprehensive, age-appropriate presentations for students and young people, providing information to help them protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

 In fiscal year 2008, BEHIV reached more than 12,000 students at dozens of schools throughout Chicago and the surrounding communities.

“I am excited to support BEHIV and the tremendous work that this organization does in our community,” said state Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago).  “This state grant will help BEHIV reach more students and keep them safe with the vitally important message of HIV prevention.”

BEHIV officials said the grant would help the program continue to grow.

“Our education outreach program is growing each year as more people hear about the outstanding job we do educating our community’s young people,” added BEHIV Executive Director Eric Nelson.  “We are presenting in more schools and social service agencies, throughout the entire Chicago area, including communities as far away as Waukegan, Barrington and Antioch, as more administrators and teachers understand that their students need to hear this very important message of survival.”

Nomination deadline for Hall of Fame extended
The 2008 deadline to nominate individuals and organizations for induction into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame has been extended to August 12. Nomination forms can be downloaded or printed from the Hall of Fame’s website at glhalloffame.org or requested by calling (312) 744-7911 and leaving a mailing address.

Completed nominations should be sent to the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, Chicago Commission on Human Relations, Advisory Council on LGBT Issues, 740 N. Sedgwick Street, Floor 3, Chicago, IL, 60654-3478.

The 2008 Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame induction ceremony and reception is scheduled for mid-November at the Chicago Cultural Center. The ceremony is open to the public and is free of charge. For more information, call Bill Greaves at (312) 744-7911.

Brown Elephant begins vehicle donation program
The Brown Elephant Resale Shops operated by Howard Brown Health Center announced last week a new program for accepting vehicle donations in support of the agency’s mission.

“We’re always interested in identifying new ways of driving revenue at the Brown Elephant,” said Brown Elephant Director of Development, Donald Rolfe. “Our newly created Vehicle Donation Program is an excellent example of that. We’ve designed the donation process to be as easy as possible and, like all funds raised at the Brown Elephant, the proceeds are used to offset the costs of providing vital health services to the nearly 70 percent of Howard Brown clients who are uninsured.”

Through the program, cars, trucks, trailers, boats, campers and RVs can be processed as donations and are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Those interested in donating a vehicle should contact (773) 388-8997 or email donaldr@howardbrown.org.