The Michael Brossette Memorial Fund (MBMF) is a program that seeks to serve people with HIV disease who are experiencing financial hardship and who do not generally qualify for other private, public or governmental programs. The MBMF helps people who might otherwise "fall through the cracks" by offering resources, including financial assistance and information about services. The program is more than simply paying a bill for someone. It is a source of help for the immediate situation and yet provides an introduction to other available services for future use. The program distributes funds gathered through private fundraisers or through donations in memory of Michael Brossette.

A successful businessman in lower Delaware, Michael Brossette died from AIDS in 1997. Michael also served as president of the Board of Trustees for the Delaware HIV Consortium, was a board member of "Building Futures: Family AIDS Housing," and was president of the Baltimore Medical Systems. Monetary gifts to the Consortium in Michael's memory provided the initial funding for the program.

The Michael Brossette Memorial Fund is a unique program in several ways. First, it targets persons living with HIV disease who are "outside of the system." The Consortium reaches out to persons who are struggling to manage the financial burden of HIV disease using only their limited personal resources. Second, it considers types of requests (such as mortgage payments) that are typically denied through other programs. Third, the administrating agency (in this case, the Delaware HIV Consortium) takes no administrative charges for operating the program. In this way, 100% of the dollars given to the Fund are used to provide direct assistance to persons living with HIV disease.

The Michael Brossette Memorial Fund is not intended simply to complement the regular income of persons with HIV infection or AIDS. Rather it provides funding to meet a specific need for the applicant. The program may provide up to $500 in assistance per applicant. If the applicant's need is greater than that, Consortium representatives will refer that applicant to other financial assistance programs that may help.

For more information, contact the Delaware HIV Consortium at 302-654-5471.