Pediatric AIDS Coalition at UCLA Information

WHO WE ARE The Pediatric AIDS Coalition at UCLA is the largest student-run non-profit organization on the west coast, and is dedicated to fighting pediatric AIDS and HIV, as well as the stigma surrounding it. Through PAC's annual Dance Marathon, where over 1,000 students each year pledge to take a stand towards ending mother to child transmission of HIV, over $5 million has been raised in support of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the UCLA AIDS Institute and The Laurel Foundation. DANCE MARATHON Dance Marathon acknowledges the battle of children suffering from AIDS by fighting our own personal battle: staying on your feet for 26 hours to literally take a stand against pediatric HIV/AIDS. With thousands of participants, live music, and appearances by celebrities and activists alike, Dance Marathon aims to empower the UCLA campus community in the fight against pediatric AIDS by raising awareness about the importance of HIV education and testing, and by helping young people make a difference in halting the spread of this critical, preventable disease. WHY PEDIATRIC AIDS? Children at risk for mother-to-child transmission are extremely vulnerable in utero, during childbirth, and when breastfeeding. Without treatment, the chance of an HIV+ mother infecting her child can be up to 45%. Today, with the help of antiretroviral medications and proper care during childbirth, doctors are able to reduce the chance of mother-to-child transmission to less than 5%. Pediatric HIV/AIDS is a unique facet of the AIDS pandemic because it is entirely preventable. In 1988, nearly 2,000 children were infected with HIV every day. While progress has been made, due to a lack of resources, over 400 children continue to be infected each day. By educating the community, raising capital, and combating the stigma surrounding the disease, PAC is taking an active role in the solution. Together, let’s make an imPACt!