Partner Highlight: GDMAF

In honor of 30 years, AAI is recognizing partner agencies that are also doing great work in the community. The success of one is done in partnership with others. This month, the partner highlight is Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund (GDMAF).

"Congratulations on AIDS Arms 30 years of service to Community. 2016 was the 20th Anniversary of GDMAF and our relationship with AIDS ARMS.

The Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund began in 1996 with a group of friends who knew Greg and wanted to honor his memory and his fight against AIDS, which took his life in 1994. We saw the things that people with HIV and AIDS needed that AIDS Arms could not supply or were unable to help when people were in an emergency need. So the mission of GDMAF is to assist those with HIV and AIDS in emergency needs after all other AIDS Organizations have exhausted their resources. We are a last resort organization.

AIDS Arms was the only organization we worked with for the first 5 years. Since we are a 100% volunteer group, we needed an organization that would screen and provide the list of clients who needed emergency assistance that AAI could not provide, due to their Grants or to restricted funds. We worked closely with Fernie Sanchez at AIDS Arms to fulfil those needs.

GDMAF assisted with such needs as car repairs to keep people going back to work or to the doctor, refrigerator to keep a client’s HIV /AIDS medicines cold and from going bad, when they use to have the IV medications in bags for food and strength. We had to limit the amount of funds for each need, but we could respond within 2-3 days. In some cases, we delivered rent checks directly to AIN to keep clients from being evicted.

Over the years, GDMAF has been able, (thanks to the community and donations from DIFFA, LIFEWALK event, Dallas Bears, United Court, Miss Texas Gay State Pageant System, Team Friendly , Leather Knights and other local community groups) , to expand our services to all 9 of the following major AIDS Organizations in North Texas.

AIDS Arms

AIDS Services of Dallas

AIDS Interfaith Network

Resource Center

Parkland ARCH Center for Children

Amelia Court – Parkland – HIV Center

Health Services of North Texas in Plano and Denton

AIDS Outreach Center of Ft. Worth

Legacy Counseling Center – in 2015

GDMAF has 2 major fundraisers a year – Metroball on the 1st Friday of June each year and our Planobar Event that supports our Lifewalk Team. We still run out of funds each month, but are grateful for the support. For more information on GDMAF please go to www.gdmaf.org" -GDMAF Staff