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Joey
& Carol DiPaolo
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Brief
History:
The Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation was created in 1996 by
Carol DiPaolo and her son Joey. When Joey was four (1984)
he was infected with the HIV virus from a blood transfusion
during open-heart surgery. At age ten Joey and family attended
Camp Sunburst in California. At this point in time Camp
Sunburst was the first and only AIDS related summer camp
program in the country. Empowered and motivated by the camp
experience both mother and son began public speaking in
1990 bringing AIDS education to parents, faculty, and students
throughout the country. After becoming national AIDS spokespersons
for several AIDS organizations, Carol and Joey decided to
establish The Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation (JDAF). This
foundation is motivated by compassion and hope for young
people who are living with HIV/AIDS. The centers for Disease
Control reports that 51% of all new HIV infections in the
U.S. occur in young people under 25, with that statistic
in mind both mother and son wanted to give other HIV positive
adolescents/teens an opportunity to attend a special AIDS
related summer camp programs, thus JDAF was created. Joey
and Carol have provided over 500 AIDS prevention and education
programs nationwide.
Click
here to view Joey DiPaolo's Bio
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Camp TLC - Teens Living a Challenge:
Camp TLC was created
to help young adults make the transition from childhood
to adulthood while coping with the challenges and complications
of HIV/AIDS. The camp provides the children an environment
that is emotionally and educationally supportive. Camp TLC
targets teens between the ages 13-19. Medical and psychological
staff, on a volunteer basis, are available throughout the
entire session. Food, lodging, and transportation are provided
at no cost to the camper. Camp TLC rents the campgrounds
in Port Jervis, New York.
Click
here to find out more about Camp TLC
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Need/Problem JDAF is acknowledging:
Every
year, 3 million American teenagers acquire a sexually transmitted
disease leaving them more susceptible to HIV infection. Unfortunately
teens are becoming infected and transmitting the HIV virus
at an alarming rate. These HIV positive teens need a program
that will address the many issues they face living with this
disease. By Providing them with our unique Camp TLC program
these teens are offered an opportunity to meet other teens
that are living with the same disease. Our program unites
the adolescents with a non-threatening, supportive environment,
encouraging them to converse and socialize with other teens
much like themselves. Our camp experience gives all children
a sense of belonging, not only to society but to a larger
family who can empathize with their trials and tribulations.
HIV positive teens feel different from their peers who are
not infected. Some carry the burden of keeping their diagnosis
a secret for years, with fear of being rejected or labeled
an outcast. Our program empowers these teens, teaches them
to be confident and proud of the person they are and will
become. This is their opportunity to share their lives with
others, make lifelong friends, and gain the confidence to
make a difference in this world, their world.
Our full year program continues to offer many activities and
experiences that will keep them connected to each other and
provide all with ongoing support. JDAF has no salaried employees
and several steady volunteers who are working with JDAF on
a daily basis. Volunteers are also utilized prior to and during
special fund raising events that JDAF coordinates.
The global need to bring AIDS services and programs to support those hardest hit by the pandemic is overwhelming. JDAF was introduced to the work of the Cabrini Mission Foundation www.cabrinifoundation.org. and a united effort to bring aid to Africa by assisting programs already in place is crucial. JDAF hopes to bring an exploratory team into Swaziland to assist the work of the Mission.
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