Soft Economy Hardens Hearts for AIDS Crisis
 
 
    
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More Americans blame “lack of money” for inaction in fight against AIDS
SEATTLE – Americans have little interest in helping children overseas orphaned by the AIDS pandemic, according to a national survey commissioned by World Vision, the international Christian humanitarian organization.
While 41 percent said they might be open to supporting organizations addressing the needs of children in AIDS-ravaged nations, only 5 percent said they definitely would support those organizations, a drop from 8 percent less than two years ago.
“World Vision remains committed to serving those both affected and infected by this disease,” says World Vision President Richard E. Stearns. “Fortunately, we have many thousands of loyal and committed donors who, like us, see this pandemic as the greatest humanitarian disaster of our time.”
Nearly half of American adults claim that financial limitations prevent them from supporting organizations fighting AIDS internationally – a 56 percent increase in less than two years.
The survey of more than 1,000 people conducted by California-based Barna Research Group compares responses with those given in a similar survey conducted early last year. In 2001, 27 percent of respondents claimed “lack of finances” as a top reason not to donate to AIDS-related causes. In the recent survey, that number increased to 42 percent.
Other common reasons given included:
· prioritizing domestic needs over international ones; and
· preferring to support other causes.
“Given such a dramatic increase in less than two years, it seems many are truly feeling the pinch of a stalled economy and a soft market,” says David Kinnaman, the Barna Research Group’s vice president and strategic leader. “Still, other research shows that people often play the ‘finance’ card to cop out of the less socially desirable response: ‘I’m just not interested in that cause.’ The other common responses indicate that lack of interest may be the more accurate reason.”
Other key findings from the survey include:
- “Baby Busters” (ages 18 to 37) seem to be the most responsive generation to HIV/AIDS causes with 47 percent as “supportive” or “mildly supportive.” Nevertheless, 30 percent of “Boomers” (ages 38 to 56) were “supportive” or “mildly supportive.” Only 21 percent of “Elders” (ages 57 and up) fell into either of those two categories.
- The most likely group to support children affected by AIDS were parents of young children who attend church.
- Ethnically, white Americans are most resistant to addressing HIV/AIDS: only 27 percent were supportive or mildly supportive, compared with 52 percent of Hispanics and 51 percent of African Americans.
- Those identifying themselves as Democrats were more likely than Republicans to be “supportive” or even “mildly supportive” in donating (38 percent to 25 percent, respectively).
- Those with the fewest resources to act, those with limited education and limited income were, ironically, more likely to qualify as “supportive” of AIDS-related issues.
- Geographically, those living in the South and Northeast were more likely to be “supportive” and “mildly supportive,” respectively in contrast with those in the West and Midwest, who were more likely to be “indifferent” and “unsupportive,” respectively.
World Vision has provided AIDS prevention education and care for more than a decade. The organization’s first work included assistance for AIDS orphans and their foster families in Uganda, care for HIV-infected babies and children in Romania, and support for teens and young women escaping prostitution in Thailand. Today, World Vision is combating AIDS throughout Africa, Asia and other parts of the world.
Contact: Gardi Ipema Wilks (708) 366-8398 (office); (708) 205-5020 (cell)
Sheryl Watkins (253) 815-2246 (office); (888) 787-3056 (pager)
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