Founded in 1991, Pediatric AIDS Chicago (PAC) is a not-for-profit, primarily volunteer organization committed to improving the lives of HIV-infected children and their families. PAC supports direct care services and hands-on activities while maintaining the lowest possible administrative overhead.
Our Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative (PACPI) is dedicated to eliminating the transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus from pregnant infected mothers to their newborns. PAC’s efforts to fight AIDS worldwide are funded annually through the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
We also provide funding for a program in Rwanda, called WE-ACTx (Women’s Equity in Access to Care and Treatment). To learn more about the program, please
click here.
Pediatric AIDS Chicago (PAC) began from a friendship Debbi Klein, Lynne Weber, and Susie Ortner had with Elizabeth Glaser (co-founder of Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation) when they all attended the University of Wisconsin.
Upon learning of her family’s tragedy (Elizabeth’s daughter, Ariel, was diagnosed with AIDS and Elizabeth and her son, Jake, were HIV positive), they wished to help her in her fight to raise funds for Pediatric AIDS research.
In 1991, Elizabeth came to Chicago to speak to a small group of potential contributors. When she was in town, Lynne, Susie, and Debbi hosted a luncheon inviting all of their friends to hear Elizabeth speak, with the idea that they too would be motivated to help fundraise for her organization as only she could. In her very moving and dynamic way, Elizabeth told them she was in a fight for her own life as well as her children’s. After she left, those in attendance committed themselves to help her in the fight against pediatric AIDS.
After speaking to Elizabeth about becoming part of the Pediatric AIDS Foundation (PAF), it was mutually decided that Pediatric AIDS Chicago should be its own 501(C)(3) not-for-profit organization. While wanting to support PAF’s research efforts, it was also realized that there is a great need in Chicago to assist agencies working directly with children and adolescents impacted by the HIV/AIDS virus.
We learned many things from Elizabeth’s foundation. From our inception, Pediatric AIDS Chicago has participated in events that are completely underwritten. As a mostly volunteer organization, we have been able to maintain an exceptionally low administrative overhead.
Although Ariel and Elizabeth have both died from AIDS, today Jake is about 21 years of age, and considered a “long-term survivor.” He has been a beneficiary of research that the foundation has helped to fund. Pediatric AIDS Chicago continues to have close ties with The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF). PAC directs dollars to the EGPAF to support the worldwide “CALL TO ACTION”, directing resources to countries where the epidemic is raging.
Pediatric AIDS Chicago thrives today because of the dedicated volunteers committed to making a difference in the lives of children and families affected by this horrible disease. Co-founders and members continued to be inspired by Elizabeth’s legacy of hope for a future without AIDS.
Pediatric AIDS Chicago is made up of dedicated volunteers committed to making a difference in the lives of children and families affected by HIV/AIDS. Each member brings their strengths, talents, resources and time to the organization, allowing their allegiance to make a powerful and positive impact within the community.
The
Board of Directors are members who are elected to their position and required to attend monthly Board meetings and participate in decisions by vote. Members are also requested to actively participate on a standing board committee and to support the annual benefit, as well as other fundraising events. To download a membership application, please
click here.
The
Associate Board is in their initial stages of membership recruitment. The Associate Board is to be comprised of individuals representing diverse gender, racial and ethnic backgrounds. The desired membership of the Associate Board is between 30 to 50 members. To download a membership application, please
click here or view the
Associate Board structure.
The
Junior Committee is made up of individuals representing age groups 20 to 35 years old. They meet monthly to plan and sponsor fundraising events, targeting donors who are their contemporaries. Their focus is on networking within the community and helping to spread awareness about Pediatric AIDS Chicago to their direct audience.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Meghan McCann at (312) 334-0972.
| Founding Members |
| Debbi Klein |
| Susan Ortner |
| Lynne Weber |
| Officers |
| Debbie Kerr, President |
| Therese Steinken, Vice President |
| Laurie Glenner, Secretary |
| Board of Directors |
| Lisa Bailey |
| Jamie Buzil |
| Susan Gevirtz |
| Laurie Glenner |
| Debbi Klein |
| Bernyce Kosoglad |
| Frankie Kulp |
| Tina Schmidt |
| Nancy Silverman |
| Therese Steinken |
| Chary Vogel |
| Lynne Weber |
| Supporting Members |
| Heather Aherns |
| Cheryl Bradford |
| Jan Brenner |
| Catherine Bryan |
| Scott Bobek |
| Joan Evans |
| Laurie Goldberg |
| Kathy Jeffery |
| Linda Kroll |
| Sheila Mikulina |
| Alicia Miller |
| Susan Ortner |
| Valerie Wilson Reed |
| Evelyn Reynolds |
| Susan Rubens |
| Hope Sheppard |
| Anne Statton |
| M. Christine Stock |
| Junior Committee Co-Presidents |
| Carrie Gevirtz |
| Rachel Klein Namordi |
| Junior Committee Members |
| Cari-Ann Bucci |
| Jaime Dircksen |
| Erin Emerson |
| Carroll Jordan |
| Melissa Lee |
| Kathy Mikulina |
| Adam Weber |
| Eryn Weber-Shifrin |
| Rachel Yoder |
Meghan McCann
Director of Development
Pediatric AIDS Chicago
411 South Wells Street, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 334-0972 Phone
(000) 000-0000 Fax
PAC Celebrity Spokesperson - Diann Burns
Veteran Chicago broadcaster Diann Burns is co-anchor of CBS 2 CHICAGO’s 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM newscasts, alongside Antonio Mora. One of Chicago’s most recognizable journalists, Burns joined the station in October 2003.
Before working at CBS 2 CHICAGO, Burns was co-anchor of WLS-TV’s top rated 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM newscasts. Burns was promoted to the 10:00 PM anchor slot in 1994 by Joe Ahern, at the time WLS’ general manager. (Ahern now serves in the same capacity at CBS 2). The Emmy award winning Burns was Chicago’s first African-American woman to serve as lead anchor of a 10:00 PM news broadcast, and remains the only one serving in that role today.
She joined WLS-TV in 1985 as a general assignment reporter and was quickly promoted to weekend anchor. Previously, she worked at the Independent Network News of New York as a field producer and reporter. Before that she served as sports editor, photographer and reporter at the Cleveland Call and Post. She began her journalism career as a general assignment reporter with the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Throughout her career, Burns has covered several historic world news events for Chicago, including South African President Nelson Mandela’s first visit to the United States, the United States’ aid to Somalia during the famine crisis in the 1990s, four national political conventions and the funerals of Mayor Harold Washington and football legend Walter Payton.
Burns is known to Chicago area viewers for her groundbreaking news reports. Her investigation into how DNA science plays a role in solving local crimes was later picked up by the Chicago Sun-Times. Burns was the first local television journalist to report on the legal impact of the AIDS epidemic on crime. She broke the story of a disc jockey at a popular radio station who was later convicted of drugging and molesting his under age babysitter. Burns is also credited with numerous exclusive interviews, including the man who was later convicted of killing Michael Jordan’s father, two Chicago Bears football players accused of using drugs, and newsmakers Jerry Krause, R. Kelly and Mike Tyson.
Burns is active in several community organizations. She is the spokesperson for Pediatric AIDS Chicago and an honorary chairperson for the Ronald McDonald House charities. Burns is also involved with the Northern Illinois Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences.
She has an undergraduate degree in Politics and Mass Communications from Cleveland State University and a Masters degree from Columbia University in New York’s Graduate School of Journalism.
Burns, her husband Marc Watts, and their son live on Chicago’s north side.
| PAC Honorary Board |
| |
| Elizabeth Glaser (1947 - 1994) | George and Lainie Garrick |
| Honorable Governor and Mrs. Rod Blagojevich | Honorable Comptroller Dan Hynes |
| Honorable Mayor Richard M. Daley | Honorable Representative Mark Kirk |
| Howard Draft | Honorable State Representative Karen May |
| Honorable Senator and Mrs. Richard Durbin | Linda Johnson-Rice |
| Honorable Representative Rahm Emanuel | Honorable Representative Jan Schakowsky |
| Albert Friedman | Barack Obama |
| Health Advisory Board |
| |
| Board members meet annually to review grant proposals submitted to PAC for local care-giving support. Members include representatives from the medical, social work and philanthropic communities and are facilitated by a member of PAC. The Health Advisory Board is a separate and distinct board of PAC. |
| |
| Carole Boron | Philanthropic Consultant |
| Patricia Garcia, M.D. | Director, Women’s Program of the Comprehensive HIV Center,
Prentice Women’s Hospital & Executive Director,
Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative |
| Pat Langehennig, M.D. | Regional CARE Association |
| Stacy Lindau, M.D. | University of Chicago |
| Elizabeth Monk | Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) |
