Background Statement
The Center for Health and Hope, formerly the Center for the Church and Global AIDS, was envisioned by Dr. Donald E. Messer, president emeritus of the Iliff School of Theology, Denver, Colorado. It began functioning in 2000 and formally became a 501c3 faith-based organization in 2006.
The Center is not affiliated with any particular denomination. Dr. Messer is a United Methodist clergy, holding his Ph.D. in social ethics from Boston University. He served 29 years as a university and seminary president before beginning this outreach. He is the author of 16 books, including four focusing on HIV and AIDS.
The Center has three major dimensions. It
(1) provides direct services in terms of educating clergy and laity about HIV and AIDS through seminars, speeches, and other programs,
(2) raises funds which it distributes to other HIV and AIDS organizations in Asia and Africa. These partner organizations are small faith-based programs that work at the grassroots with people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. These groups operate their own programs, but they are monitored by the Center staff.
3) raises funds and provides small grants to community-based programs in the United States, particularly Colorado. For example, the Center works in partnership with the African-American AIDS organization, It Takes a Village in Aurora, Colorado, and a Latino AIDS organization, Sisters of Color United For Education, in Denver.