Samaritan Ministries (a HIV/AIDS ministry in Knoxville, Tennessee)

New HIV Resources Available
In Cooperation with CBF, Samaritan Ministry has developed a new resource for churches. This pamphlet, "HIV/AIDS and the Church - A Compassionate Response" is available on this website on our Resources page. Also available are two updated publications, our Devotional Guide, and our pamphlet, "Reaching out to the HIV/AIDS Community". Print copies are also available.

CBF Assembly
Samaritan Ministry will be participating in the annual Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) Assembly in Charlotte, NC in June. At this conference we will be a part of two HIV related workshops and we will again be exhibiting. Samaritan Ministry has been a partner with CBF for many years and this is a valuable and mutually beneficial relationship. CBF has been committed to HIV/AIDS awareness since hosting an AIDS Summit at the National Assembly in Atlanta in 2006.

Knoxville City Grant Awarded
For the first time, we have secured a City of Knoxville grant for our work with residents of Knoxville. This grant ($1500) will help to underwrite our vision program (a partnership with the Lions Club),our Thanksgiving Banquet, and the Hope Bucket project.

Tennessee Department of Health Partnership
Samaritan Ministry has enjoyed a partnership with the Tennessee Department of Health since 2004. This partnership includes Regional Community Planning Group (RCPG) funding. We have just learned that our funding will be continued through 2011! This funding ($20,000) helps us to cover 4 categories within our budget: Salary, Rent, Supplies, and Travel.

Knox County Community Development Grant
Samaritan Ministry has again been awarded a grant from Knox County Community Development. This $4400 grant, for fiscal 2011, will underwrite our school programs, including the return of "The Inner Circle", our HIV Prevention Drama. This joint effort with WordPlayers, will return to Knox County Schools in the Spring of 2011.

MAC AIDS Fund Grant Award
The MAC AIDS Fund has awarded another grant to Samaritan Ministry. This Grant is made specifically so we can offer assistance to our clients with emergency housing needs, including rent assistance and utility rescue. The MAC AIDS Fund has been a consistent supporter of Samaritan Ministry since 2004.

VACCINE RESEARCH STRIDES
In a report in The Wall Street Journal on July 8, U.S. government scientists say they have “discovered three powerful antibodies, the strongest of which neutralizes 91% of HIV strains, more than any AIDS antibody yet discovered.” The research was published on July 8 in two papers in the online edition of the journal Science, 10 days before the opening of the International AIDS Conference in Vienna, where prevention science is expected to take center stage. The new discovery is part of what Wayne Koff, head of research and development at the nonprofit International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, calls a "renaissance" in HIV vaccine research. Vaccine research has has several notable failures in the past two years, so scientists regard these new findings as great steps in the right direction.

President Obama Releases New American AIDS Strategy
After a full year of community meetings and other kinds of input from all over the country, the President has released the first ever US AIDS Policy. This kind of attention from the Administration is priceless, and truly marks a significant event in the history of this epidemic. To read the full text of the Strategy, past the following link into your browser: aids.gov/federal-resources/policies/national-hiv-aids-strategy/nhas.pdf