Carolyn's Nonprofit Blog

The ONE Power Summit – an educational event that included pre-scheduled in-person meetings with elected representatives on Capitol Hill – was terrific. Organized by ONE Campaign, I was pleased and surprised to receive a ten-year pin for volunteering during the closing session.

I created a photo portfolio of the event, and you can see my slideshow by following this link, or by navigating to the lower margin and looking under, “Carolyn’s Photo Blogs.” A few reels are shared on Instagram @cmappleton. There is also a follow-up article on the ONE Campaign website. Thanks for including the photo of my visit with Congressman McCaul!

The focus of our meetings this year was PEPFAR, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which was originally created in 2003 under the George W. Bush Administration. In brief:

• Since its inception in 2003, PEPFAR has invested over $100 billion in the global HIV/AIDS response, saving 25 million lives, preventing millions of HIV infections, and supporting several countries to achieve HIV epidemic control – all while significantly strengthening global health security.

• PEPFAR’s strategic rigor has allowed the program to significantly expand its lifesaving results and impact without increased financial resources over the past nine years.

• PEPFAR’s investments also have strengthened the systems that drive effective, efficient, and sustainable health care. These investments create a lasting health system for partner countries to confront other current and future health challenges and enhance global health security.

• PEPFAR’s transformative, lifesaving impact is unassailable, but … the HIV pandemic continues to evolve in every community and country, and PEPFAR constantly adapts to address new risk groups, new health challenges, and persistent gaps.

As you know, I am a fundraiser but what is great about working with ONE Campaign, it is about advocacy rather than fundraising. You can join me in lending your voice to the reauthorization of PEPFAR by following this link! Thank you for doing so.

PEPFAR is an important component of a larger initiative, foreign aid. We asked our elected representatives in Congress to approve $72.9 billion in State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) appropriations for Fiscal Year 2024. This number is large but keep in mind, it is only 1% of the entire federal budget. And what a positive return on investment this will have!

The United States leads the world in the fight to end poverty and preventable disease, and in promoting economic growth around the world. Multiple agencies will manage these funds and we learned during the ONE Power Summit how the fund managers will continue to focus strongly on accountability and transparency. A billion fewer people are living in extreme poverty than they were in 1990, and infant and maternal mortality rates have dropped over the past 25 years. But sadly, during COVID-19, global poverty began to increase again, as did HIV/AIDS infections.

Investment in global development is not only the right thing to do, it is also in the best interest of our nation. Healthy nations do not fall prey to upheaval and terrorism. The citizens of healthy nations do not succumb to nor spread disease, nor do they easily fall prey to criminal enterprises. Healthy citizens think clearly and they are productive citizens benefiting their families, communities, and nations. They engage less in risky behaviors and healthy citizens raise healthy children, the future generations of our world.

You might enjoy reading, “Food and mental health” from Mind, a nonprofit based in the United Kingdom. And for those in the U.S. struggling with food insecurity, in the main menu of Carolyn’s Nonprofit Blog, you will find a link to FindHelp.

In closing, I would like to thank Senators Cornyn and Cruz, and Congressmen Doggett, Luttrell and McCaul, and their attentive and courteous staff members, for taking time out of their busy schedules to meet with the Texas team of ONE Campaign. We enjoyed sharing information about PEPFAR, and we hope you will each support reauthorization, and the proposed U.S. Foreign Operations (SFOPs) Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2024.

Is is important to note that PEPFAR has nothing to do with funding abortions overseas. There seems to be a misinformation campaign underway as I post, to throw off the factual discussions about PEPFAR and its accomplishments. Please do not be fooled by misinformation. If you have questions, reach out to Liz Leibowitz, Senior Director of Government Relations at ONE Campaign (liz.leibowitz@one.org). Thank you.