As a young girl, Sally Palmbaum spent her summers at all-girls Camp Fernwood in Poland, Maine. There she met fellow camper Betsy Meyer. Though not close friends at camp, Sally reconnected with Betsy, who later became Elizabeth Glaser, at a camp reunion.

In 1988, when Sally saw the 60 Minutes interview during which Elizabeth publicly announced her HIV-positive status, it was a shock. Sally remembers, “It struck me that Elizabeth had this horrible disease, had lost a child to it, and was at risk of losing Jake as well.” Sally reached out to Elizabeth, and the two kept in touch until Elizabeth’s death in 1994.

When Elizabeth created the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Sally leapt at the opportunity to help not only Elizabeth and her family, but all people affected by HIV. She made her first gift to the Foundation in 1991, and has continued to make annual donations ever since, never skipping a beat for 18 years. Sally consistently gives to EGPAF “to continue the fight — the fight for a better life for children and hopefully for their parents,” she explains. “AIDS is such a devastating disease and it’s about the only way I can help.”

Sally has shown immense devotion to EGPAF since its very beginning, and has seen it grow from a thoughtful idea to a global organization. Impressed by the substantial progress EGPAF has made in the fight against pediatric AIDS, Sally knows her support makes a true impact.

“It’s important to give to things that are critical to our future,” Sally says. And even in light of the current uncertain economic situation, Sally reminds donors that EGPAF cannot depend on established sources for continued funding. Sally believes that because EGPAF’s success is greatly built upon the generosity of others, “it’s even more important for individuals to step up to the plate.”