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Sixteen-year-old Shawn
(we've made up his name) lives on the streets somewhere in downtown He left home one night
because his parents are drug addicts and he just couldn't take it any more. Having no family, Shawn
created his own on the streets of
There are hundreds of Shawns in They camp in parks,
abandoned buildings, on city streets, under bridges, wherever they can find a
place to stay each night. The lucky ones do what is called "couch
surfing" – they sleep on couches in friends' homes. Many of these homeless
youngsters engage in prostitution and drug use to stay alive and survive in
our high-priced Because of very risky
behavior, almost all of them could be victims of HIV/AIDS.
According to Judy
Whittier, Director of Community Resources for the And that's only the Judy affirms that the "Xilinx walks on
water..." "As far as I'm
concerned," says Judy, "Xilinx walks on water. I feel honored to be
associated with your company. You have done so much for HIV/AIDS all these 17
years – it's just amazing." Judy adds that the
Center has come to rely on our generosity to cover the areas that are not
covered by government funding. "You know,"
says Judy, "some 75 to 80 percent of our funding comes from the
government. But the government grants don't cover everything so we need to go
to foundations and corporations. I don't know what we would do without the
funds that Xilinx contributes."
The money that is
raised from the Walk for AIDS goes to the HIV/AIDS program that the Centre for Living with
Dying services include workshops and retreats for adults suffering from
HIV/AIDS and their caregivers called a Circle of Care; as well as a 24-hour
hotline called The Centre Cares, which is a crisis line for all ages of
people who are HIV positive or have AIDS along with the people who care about
and for them. "We need to change
behavior..." Judy explains that the
role of The kids, she
continues, have a variety of problems and they address each of them in turn:
get them off the streets; get them off drugs; find meaningful work for them;
get them back to school – all these will keep the youngsters from engaging in
the kind of risky behavior that can result in AIDS. "It isn’t,"
says Judy, "just one thing." Most of these kids,
adds Judy, are from very troubled and abusive homes. She says there is a
connection between foster care and kids on the street. When kids aren’t loved
unconditionally, as most of us are by our parents, they walk out on their
families and make their home on the streets. Given an untenable family
situation, the streets are often preferable. Judy and her non-profit
colleagues in Bill
Wilson Center are very appreciative of the help they have received from
Xilinx employees. Aside from dollars that
come from the Walk for AIDS and Unmask the Mysteries, the Center could use
volunteers. It has an excellent three to four week training program for
volunteers and if any employees would like to work with young people in our
county, please click visit the "Without
Xilinx," Judy concludes, "there would be no extra funds and
probably no Walk for AIDS. I can’t thank you all enough." |
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