Updated April 28, 2007

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday’s Child, Inc of Long Island, an AIDS services community based non-profit charity in Patchogue, New York, is grateful to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for its ruling in Nassau v Leavitt.

On behalf of the over 400 families and individuals served by Thursday’s Child annually, and on behalf of the over 6,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS across the Long Island region – we are very glad and pleased the Court has so strongly affirmed our cause.

Thursday’s Child thanks and acknowledges the leadership and dedication of Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, Deputy County Executive Mary Curtis, the County Attorneys, and the brilliant legal team at the Nassau-Suffolk Law Services.

We call upon Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services to fully restore HIV/AIDS funding immediately and without delay to Long Island!

The capricious and arbitrary decisions made in February, 2007 that downgraded Long Island’s funding status were wrong – we are thrilled that the Courts upheld our argument.

However, we cannot turn back time. Thursday’s Child lost close to $300,000 in contracts designed to allow persons living with HIV/AIDS to maintain their much needed health care in dignity!

These supportive services such as emergency housing and emergency financial assistance provide the essential and humane underpinnings of medical care.

We strongly maintain that there is precious little medical care when one is homeless, or cold, or hungry!

We strongly maintain that persons are much more than just prescriptions!

The rising cost of housing, heating, transportation, and food force the working poor and those with fixed incomes to choose and make spending decisions on a third-world level – this is unacceptable.

Please help keep Thursday’s Child open to serve our neighbors in need! We call upon all persons of good will to ACT UP! Fight Back! Fight AIDS!

Press Release 28 April 2008

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