Fund began with $15,000 donation from anonymous donor, has continued to grow with donations from donor’s estate
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| Resource Center Executive Director Mike McKay: "This endowment … will ensure that our critical work in this field will continue." |
Officials with the Resource Center of Dallas this week announced that the total for its permanent endowment fund benefiting the center’s HIV/AIDS programs and services now tops $1.2 million.
Strategic Communications and Programs Manager Rafael McDonnell explained that the fund was first established in 2006 with a $15,000 donation from a contributor who wanted to remain anonymous. That donor passed away after that initial gift, and since his death his estate has continued to make donations to the fund to bring it to its current total.
McDonnell also said that individuals, businesses or organizations interested in donating to the fund or in holding events to benefit the fund can contact the Resource Center for information. He said the center has people available to help donors made the endowment fund part of their planned giving efforts.
Mike McKay, Resource Center of Dallas’ executive director, said, "We are exceptionally grateful to receive this generous gift. From testing to education to our dental and nutrition programs, Resource Center of Dallas has been a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS since the pandemic began in the 1980s. This endowment, which we are announcing now that it has reached over $1 million, will ensure that our critical work in this field will continue."
McKay also noted that since only the interest and dividend income from the fund may be used for the center’s program and services, the fund will provide perpetual benefits.
The center established the AIDS Resource Center in 1985 as a source for community awareness and prevention education, legal services, a food pantry, clothing, household goods and emergency funding.
Three years later in 1988, the center established the Nelson-Tebedo Clinic for treatment, clinical drug trials and HIV testing.
The renamed Nelson-Tebedo Health Resource Center currently also offers HIV dental, STD prevention and testing, medical case management, insurance assistance, prevention and transgender health services.
Nutritional services are available through a food pantry as well as hot lunches at the John Thomas Gay and Lesbian Community Center.
The food pantry reopened in its new location, 5450 Denton Drive Cutoff, on Thursday, Feb. 19.
The Resource Center of Dallas also operates the John Thomas Gay and Lesbian Community Center and the Phil Johnson Historic Archives and Library, both of which are located at 2701 Reagan St.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition February 20, 2009.