NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Kelly Kazemier

Director of Communications

631-244-3318

kazemiek@dowling.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 7, 2007

“Angels” from Dowling College Make a Difference for World AIDS Day

OAKDALE, NY – As a contribution to World AIDS Day, which occurs every year on December 1, 2007, Dr. Bill Thierfelder, Associate Professor of English at Dowling College, started the "The Food Angel Project" in the last week in November. Through the collaborative efforts of Dr. Thierfelder and the Dowling College community, this initiative raised $1,650.00 in super market gift cards that were distributed to The Long Island Association for AIDS Care (LIAAC) and Thursday's Child, whose clients have been cut off from Ryan White Care Act funding. Everyone at the College worked together to make a difference, especially the Student Government Association, who hosted a bake sale that raised $375 for this worthy cause.

On Monday, December 3, 2007, Dr. Thierfelder along with Dowling College President Robert J. Gaffney and Student Government Representative Kyle Valentine, presented the super market gift cards to both Leslie Ducet, Director of Client Services at LIAAC, and Greg Noone, Program Manager at Thursday's Child, who greatly appreciated the efforts.

"It is disappointing to see the effects of the government cutting off funds to AIDS. Service providers like LIAAC and Thursday's Child need help, and I felt I had to step up to the plate. I'm really glad the initiative was so successful and am grateful to the Dowling community for their support. It proves once again that we really are the Personal College."

“Thursday's Child of Long Island is extremely proud of Dr. Thierfelder and the Student Government Association of Dowling College. Families across the region who are living with and affected by HIV/AIDS have turned to Thursday's Child for 18 years seeking essential and humane services. On behalf of those whom we serve, we are thankful to Dowling College for helping us keep our commitment to our neighbors in need,” said Gregory Noone, Program Manager. "We implore all of good will to call upon Congress to restore the care in the CARE Act."

The 1990 Ryan White Care Act, legislation geared to help people infected/affected with HIV/AIDS in America, was recently amended. Nearly all of the funding of the Act now goes to medical expenses and abstinence-only programs. Prior to the amendments of the Act, funding went to all organizations that helped underprivileged persons with HIV/AIDS with their housing expenses, monthly bills, ability to buy food, and transportation to and from doctors. Organizations typically received millions of dollars to help with these kinds of programs, but this has changed drastically. Organizations such as LIAAC and Thursday's Child now face difficulties helping their thousands of clients get to medical appointments, pay rent, and most importantly; get access to food. Thanks to the generous spirit of Dr. Thierfelder and Dowling College, now more people living with HIV/AIDS can have better access to food. Anyone interested in supporting this endeavor can send Thursday’s Child tax-deductible checks throughout the year.

Photo: http://www.dowling.edu/news/year2007/pictures/foodangel.JPG

Photo Caption: Kyle Valentine, SGA Representative, Robert J. Gaffney, Dowling College President, Leslie Ducet, LIAAC, Dr. Bill Thierfelder, Dowling College Professor and Greg Noone, Thursday’s Child

About Dowling College

Dowling College is an independent, coeducational college that serves more than 6,500 students at its historic Rudolph Campus on the banks of the Connetquot River in Oakdale, NY, and the 105-acre Brookhaven Campus in eastern Long Island and a business center located near the Nassau-Suffolk border in Melville. Dowling offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in several disciplines through its four schools: Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Education.

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