New York City,
Feb.27, 2009 Roberta Thompson of Wicked clothing held a
fashion show at Strata on Broadway to benefit the Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation for Camp TLC. The monies raised will
help enable 13 to 18 year olds with AIDS attend this camp.
The guest DJ was Mike D, Spero Stramboulis from the
Bachelorette TV show was there along with Lil Joey, actor
Valence Thomas and a few other celebrities. Roberta said, "
I really enjoy doing shows for charities, the energy is
good, this is a great cause."
About the Charity:
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The Joey
DiPaolo AIDS Foundation was created in 1996 by
Carol DiPaolo and her son Joey. When Joey was
four (1984) he was infected with the HIV virus
from a blood transfusion during open-heart
surgery. At age ten Joey and family attended
Camp Sunburst in California. At this point in
time Camp Sunburst was the first and only AIDS
related summer camp program in the country.
Empowered and motivated by the camp experience
both mother and son began public speaking in
1990 bringing AIDS education to parents,
faculty, and students throughout the country.
After becoming national AIDS spokespersons for
several AIDS organizations, Carol and Joey
decided to establish The Joey DiPaolo AIDS
Foundation (JDAF). This foundation is motivated
by compassion and hope for young people who are
living with HIV/AIDS. The centers for Disease
Control reports that 51% of all new HIV
infections in the U.S. occur in young people
under 25, with that statistic in mind both
mother and son wanted to give other HIV positive
adolescents/teens an opportunity to attend a
special AIDS related summer camp programs, thus
JDAF was created. Joey and Carol have provided
over 500 AIDS prevention and education programs
nationwide.
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Camp TLC -
Teens Living a Challenge was created to help
young adults make the transition from childhood
to adulthood while coping with the challenges
and complications of HIV/AIDS. The camp provides
the children an environment that is emotionally
and educationally supportive. Camp TLC targets
teens between the ages 13-19. Medical and
psychological staff, on a volunteer basis, are
available throughout the entire session. Food,
lodging, and transportation are provided at no
cost to the camper. Camp TLC rents the
campgrounds in Port Jervis, New York.
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Every year, 3
million American teenagers acquire a sexually
transmitted disease leaving them more
susceptible to HIV infection. Teens are becoming
infected and transmitting the HIV virus at an
alarming rate. These HIV positive teens need a
program that will address the many issues they
face living with this disease. By providing them
with a unique Camp TLC program these teens are
offered an opportunity to meet other teens that
are living with the same disease. The program
unites the adolescents with a non-threatening,
supportive environment, encouraging them to
converse and socialize with other teens much
like themselves. The TLC camp experience gives
all children a sense of belonging, not only to
society but to a larger family who can empathize
with their trials and tribulations. HIV positive
teens feel different from their peers who are
not infected. Some carry the burden of keeping
their diagnosis a secret for years, with fear of
being rejected or labeled an outcast. The
camp program empowers these teens, teaches them
to be confident and proud of the person they are
and will become. This is their opportunity to
share their lives with others, make lifelong
friends, and gain the confidence to make a
difference in this world, their world.
The full year program continues to offer many
activities and experiences that will keep them
connected to each other and provide all with
ongoing support. JDAF has no salaried employees
and several steady volunteers who are working
with JDAF on a daily basis.
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