Janssen Therapeutics Announces Latest Recipients of LINCC™ Funding Initiative

TITUSVILLE, N.J., Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP, today announced the funding recipients of the Linking In-Need Communities to Care Initiative™ (LINCC). The LINCC Initiative provides charitable contributions to select community-based programs that address barriers to accessing and remaining in HIV/AIDS care in disadvantaged communities.  For more information about the LINCC Initiative, please visit http://www.jtgrant-info.com.

Recipients received charitable contributions of up to $40,000 in support of programs designed to address personal, societal and structural barriers to care for individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.  Funded programs addressed well-documented barriers such as stigma and isolation, mental health issues and substance use, lack of health information and resources, lack of personal support structures and medical system inefficiencies.

The following 14 organizations received funding through the LINCC Initiative:

• Afiya Center (Dallas, TX)
• AID Upstate (Greenville, SC)
• AIDS Alabama (Birmingham, AL)
• AIDS Foundation of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
• Center for Health Justice (Los Angeles, CA)
• Children's Diagnostic & Treatment Center, Inc. (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
• Christie's Place (San Diego, CA)
• Community Education Group (Washington, DC)
• Family Planning Council/SafeGuards (Philadelphia, PA)
• Foundation of UMDNJ (Newark, NJ)
• Howard Brown Health Center (Chicago, IL)
• Montgomery AIDS Outreach (Montgomery, AL)
• Nashville Cares (Nashville, TN)
• Women's HIV Program at UCSF (San Francisco, CA)

"Janssen Therapeutics is honored to support these outstanding HIV organizations for their efforts in strengthening access to care and making a difference in their communities," said Vanessa Broadhurst, President, Janssen Therapeutics. "We are committed to addressing common barriers that can prevent people living with HIV from accessing and remaining in care, and we believe these programs can help patients and their loved ones."  

The LINCC Initiative extends the Janssen Therapeutics tradition of funding endeavors that address areas of significant unmet need in the HIV/AIDS community, while at the same time providing private sector funding to community-based organizations that are working to fulfill the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Programs funded through the LINCC Initiative focus on improving access to care, optimizing health outcomes and reducing HIV-related health disparities, particularly in underserved communities.

This LINCC Initiative is the fourth annual funding project for Janssen Therapeutics.  In total, these four initiatives have contributed nearly $2 million to community-based HIV/AIDS service organizations in the U.S. since 2008.

U.S.-based 501(c)3, tax-exempt organizations focusing on HIV/AIDS were eligible to submit proposals to the LINCC Initiative. Submissions were assessed on their potential to address access to HIV to care and treatment, and to link diagnosed patients to medical and supportive care.

About HIV in the U.S.

Early access to HIV care and treatment has been shown to prolong life, improve health outcomes and reduce the likelihood of viral transmission. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one-third of people diagnosed with HIV in the U.S. are not currently receiving care and/or treatment. Barriers to accessing and staying in care are significant and can be cultural, psychological, emotional, structural or societal in nature.

About Janssen Therapeutics

At Janssen, we are dedicated to addressing and solving some of the most important unmet medical needs of our time in HIV and other infectious diseases.  Driven by our commitment to patients, we develop innovative products, services and healthcare solutions to help people throughout the world.  Headquartered in Titusville, New Jersey, Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP, is one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies.  Visit http://www.janssentherapeutics.com  for more information.

SOURCE Janssen Therapeutics