Quarterly Letter from the President of FACT

Letter from the President, Louis Licitra

 Dear Friends,

As winter begins to leave us, spring begins with FACT Bucks County continuing to move forward in our commitment to those living with HIV-AIDS.  For over 20 years FACT has been able to serve our communities with individual financial assistance and with grants for education and prevention to those organizations that can provide these services.  With our all-volunteer board, our sponsors, our event volunteers, and with continued public support, we have been able to maintain our funding each year.

I am amazed at how we can all work together to help those in need and allow us to become a vital part of their lives.  As a “last resort” funding organization, we offer hope to individuals and their families when they need it the most.  Our heath care providers include not only local medical centers, but also Family Services of Bucks County, Visiting Nurses Association of New Jersey, Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, Mercer Area Early Intervention Services, and New Jersey AIDS Services.  Individual requests for funding are anonymous with an assigned case number and must be presented through the providers.  There is a review process for each request and approved funding is then provided; never to the individual but in paying any bills directly.  Again, we ask that you go to our FACEBOOK page and “like” us.  Please keep checking in at our web site (www.FACTBucksCounty.org ) for INFACT News and upcoming events (next BINGO is May 15th~PRIDE Bingo); for more information on PRIDE 2013 visit www.NewHopeCelebrates.com .

We initiated an on-line BINGO reservation form this year.  The response to this has been terrific and it does help us out in organizing the tables for BINGO each quarter.  We do have limited seating for BINGO due to fire hall restrictions and we hate to turn away people, so please make your reservations early.  Luckily, BINGO has been pretty much sold out each time and generates between $6,000 and $9,000 for each BINGO.  Our full house BINGOs are the (May) Pride and (December) Holiday Jingle Bell Bingo.  The cut-off for the on-line reservations will be the Monday before each Bingo…after that, you take your chances at the door!  Don’t miss the fun.  Our Annual AIDS WALK is scheduled for October 6th this year and if you are a business or organization that would like to sponsor this popular and well-attended event, please contact us at 215.862.3325 and leave a message; our WALK coordinators will get right back to you.

I want to also recognize Cora Berke And Ed Coogan; they are leaving the FACT  board, but will continue to donate their time in assisting FACT at our events.  Happy Spring!  And a BIG FACT thank you to all of you who have helped us help others!