chevron fights AIDS, TB and malaria with $1 million donation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Friends) announced it received a two-year, $1 million grant from Chevron. The grant will help expand Friends’ work to mobilize private sector, faith, youth and other partners for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) and other programs aimed at ending these epidemics.

“With Chevron’s support, Friends can continue to grow the base of U.S. global health advocates in support of the Global Fund,” said Chris Collins, President of Friends. “The private sector is a crucial partner in global health financing, advocacy and local expertise. Companies like Chevron play a critical role in advocating for global health investments and innovative public-private solutions like the Global Fund.”

Friends is a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C. that advocates for U.S. support of the Global Fund and its goal to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Friends engages U.S. policymakers and influencers in conversations about the Global Fund's lifesaving work, and highlights the significant returns on investment, including for the private sector. Pandemics take a huge toll on human life and economic development, yet most economic losses are not typically caused directly by disease itself, but by consumer reactions and cascading failures in tourism, retail, finance and other sectors. Multinational companies have a strong bottom-line interest in ending the epidemics.

“Chevron is pleased to support the important work of Friends, as an advocate, educator and convener, to end these epidemics” said Dr. Huma Abbasi, Chevron’s General Manager of Global Health and Medical.  “Our success is tied to the health and prosperity of the communities where we operate.  Through this partnership, we can help demonstrate to others that investments in global health are smart, strategic and good for our country’s humanitarian, diplomatic and economic interests.

“We welcome the new partnership with Chevron,” said Jonathan Klein, Friends’ Board Chair. “With this generous support, Friends and Chevron will collaborate to build new champions for the Global Fund. U.S. policy is at a tipping point, and our work with companies like Chevron can help us make the case for smart U.S. investments to end the three diseases for good.”