February 1, 2010 - AIDS Vancouver Island and Victoria Cool Aid Society have announced that another $100,000 has been raised for the Access Health Centre. This $5.3 million building project is supported by the partner agencies, government, foundations, businesses and individuals.  Just $900,000 remains to meet the mortgage-free goal.

The building at 713 Johnson Street, occupied since September 2009, is now home to counsellors from the Victoria Native Friendship Centre offering renewed downtown access to urban First Nations services. Later in the year, VIHA will also be moving some of their mental health and addiction services onto the second floor. These valuable partners will add to the integration of services available at the Access Health Centre which provides primary care, dental care, counselling and mental health services to the homeless and other vulnerable, at-risk populations, with a team approach that has been applauded by government, health care professionals and the community. 

Significant donations in the last two months include:

• Over $25,000 – Individual Cool Aid donors, local physicians and dentists
• $16,000 - BMO Bank of Montreal (BC Division)
• $13,500 - The Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children to pay for dental equipment used in
  the treatment of children
• $10,000 - CIBC
• $9,000 - Gifts from Victoria Foundation donors
• $2,000 – St. John the Divine Anglican Church members
  

If the capital campaign’s goal of $5.3 million is surpassed, an endowment fund will be set up in perpetuity at the Victoria Foundation to help pay for the annual costs associated with the Access Health Centre and its services.

Information:    www.AccessHealthCentre.ca     www.CoolAid.org    www.Avi.org

Kathy Stinson, Executive Director, Victoria Cool Aid Society
250-383-1977

Andrea Langlois, Communications Manager, AIDS Vancouver Island
250-384-2366 ext. 2268