Reality Star Helps Raise Awareness and Money for HIV/AIDS Treatments in Triad

Reality Star Helps Raise Awareness and Money for HIV/AIDS Treatments in Triad

February 25, 2010 | David Ford

Many people living with AIDS take advantage of state assistance to get their treatment drugs. It's called the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and in 2008 its budget was a little more than 33million dollars. But statewide, non-profit AIDS care agencies just found out that about 7 million dollars will be cut from this budget. And these agencies estimate that this year, 1,000 newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients will not have access to these life-saving drugs.

To fill in these financial gaps for Piedmont area HIV/AIDS patients, AIDS Care Services in Winston-Salem has hosted a month-long dinner party fundraising campaign. This Saturday evening it culminates with “Dining With Friends 2010 Dessert Finale and Fashion Show”. The honorary judge will be Jack Mackenroth, a top contender on Season Four of the hit reality show “Project Runway”, and a vocal AIDS advocate. Mackenroth spoke with WFDD’s David Ford from his studio in New York about his experience on Project Runway and working nationally with various AIDS care providers.