P R E S S R E L E A S E

The Executive Office, City of Providence, Rhode Island

VINCENT A. CIANCI, JR.

MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE

DATE: FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1996

CONTACT: DOREEN PICOZZI/BERYL KENYON, 421-7740, EXT. 222

PROVIDENCE -- Just two days after he announced the establishment of the FACTS FUND to assist the Family AIDS Center for Treatment and Support (FACTS), Mayor Cianci applauded the Providence community for "pulling together for the good of FACTS babies and families."

"The outpouring of generosity for FACTS is truly uplifting," Mayor Cianci said. "Support is coming from all corners of our community, from business people to individuals who are digging into their pockets for the good of FACTS. But I want to reiterate that this wonderful agency continues to need our help, and quickly."

The Mayor announced today that Barbara DeCesare, Executive Director of the American Red Cross, Rhode Island Chapter, has donated $500 in food, clothing and furniture vouchers to FACTS to help meet the agency's needs.

"Barbara called me immediately following our establishment of the FACTS Fund," Mayor Cianci said. "She is truly a leader in our community who demonstrates time and again the wonderful mission of the Red Cross. On behalf of FACTS, I thank her deeply."

As soon as the Mayor established the Fund on Wednesday, donations of much needed diapers, infant formula, play pens, clothing and other items began to arrive at City Hall. Surrounded by hundreds of dollars worth of goods donated by the Branch Avenue Stop & Shop store, and delivered personally by its store manager, Bill DelSanto, the Mayor called upon the community to help FACTS rebuild one of its two residential facilities on Oxford Street, destroyed in a fire on Tuesday. At the time of the fire, five infants and two families were living in the house. No one was injured. While the children remained in the care of Providence Fire Fighters at a nearby station directly following the fire, St. Joseph's Hospital Fatima Unit offered shelter and care for as

long as needed, to the infant residentsm while the two resident families were moved by FACTS case workers to other temporary quarters.

Thus far, thousands of dollars worth of infant formula, disposable diapers and other items have been donated by Stop & Shop, CVS stores, Edwards Food Superstores, East Side Marketplace and Walgreens.

Ann & Hope stores today presented a $200 store certificate to Mayor Cianci for the FACTS Fund. Moments later, Donnelly's Clothing Stores hand-delivered a $100 donation to the Fund.

Crib n' Cradle Juvenile Furniture has donated two new cribs, crib mattresses and children's dressers that will be delivered in the coming days. Bradlee's Department Stores is also planning to deliver all buyers' samples of children's furniture and clothing stored in its Quincy, Massachusetts warehouse.

Temporary storage of the donated items is being provided by the City.

Other major donations, including gift certificates and products from Brooks Maxi Drugs, large grants from an area bank and a human service agency, in addition to donations of building supplies from a major home goods and building chain that has pledged to assign volunteers to the reconstruction project, will be announced momentarily. Scores of volunteers are stepping forward, representing unions, city workers, and private business.

"It's overwhelming," said Paul Fitzgerald, FACTS Executive Director. "I am deeply honored and pleased for all of the help. I want to thank Mayor Cianci for stepping forward and getting people involved and excited. He's been wonderful. Thanks to his help and the help of so many others, we have not had to interrupt our services this week, and have great hope that our residents will be back in the FACTS House within weeks."

The Mayor opened the FACTS FUND with a $1,000 City donation. "Let's not stop the momentum now," he said. "We're talking about a major setback for one of the most valuable agencies in Providence, and one of only 14 such agencies of its kind in the entire nation. I urge everyone to continue to send along donations of any denomination to the FACTS Fund. Every dollar will help FACTS continue its wonderful work in the care of infants and families who are HIV affected or drug exposed. And again, my thanks to the American Red Cross and the host of local business leaders who are getting involved and lending a hand."

Donations may be made to "The FACTS Fund," and mailed or delivered to: The Facts Fund, c/o Mayor's Office, Providence City Hall, 25 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI, 02903.