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On May 9, the AIDS Legal Council of
Chicago (ALCC) will host a benefit commemorating ALCC’s 25 years of service
called "A Salute to ALCC.” The event will take place at Kirkland and Ellis
LLP. ALCC supporters, staff, interns, past and present board members, and
individual and corporate sponsors are the expected attendees. ALCC Executive
Director Ann Hilton Fisher declared, “The response from the community
surrounding our 25th anniversary has been tremendous, and we look forward to a
wonderful evening to commemorate the life-saving legal work that the council
does each day.”
ALCC works to preserve, promote, and
protect the legal rights of HIV-impacted women, men, and children in the
metropolitan Chicago area. The organization educates the public about HIV-related
legal issues, provides direct legal services to people in need, and advocates
for social policies that ensure fair treatment for all HIV/AIDS-impacted
persons. The council employs a full-time staff of seven legal professionals,
and is the only organization of its kind in the Midwest. In 2012, the council
assisted over 900 clients with 1,600 cases, and currently serves a large and
diverse client base.
When ALCC first started, it helped
dying people live as long as possible and then die with dignity. With people
living longer, ALCC shifted its priorities. ALCC now keeps clients of all ages
stabilized and helps them navigate complex systems such as social security,
Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and employment issues, with health
insurance and managed care being ALCC’s current focus. ALCC helped clients stay
a step ahead of their needs by providing information to them about the drug
cocktail as it has evolved. ALCC also assists clients to comprehend immigration
laws as well as the rules regarding working while receiving social security
benefits. In January 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will
go into full effect. ALCC’s current lobbying efforts involve making sure that
Illinois opts into expanding Medicaid when the new health care law goes into
effect. ALCC offers free training for other nonprofits and companies and works
with other organizations, including mental health providers, HIV/AIDS
providers, health care providers, and drug treatment providers.
Sponsors for the event are Kirkland
& Ellis, Winston & Strawn, Sidley Austin, Jenner & Block, McDermott
Will & Emery, DLA Piper, Mayer Brown, Schiff Hardin, Marshall Gerstein
& Borun, Clark Hill, Wintersteen & Dunning, Reed Smith, Sidetrack,
BestGayChicago.com, ChicagoPride.com, The L Stop, and Windy City Media Group.
Tickets start at $50 and can be purchased at http://www.alcc25host.eventbrite.com.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
