Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation was founded in 1988 by Elizabeth Glaser, Susan DeLaurentis, and Susie Zeegen. Glaser and her husband, actor Paul Michael Glaser, learned that Mrs. Glaser had been infected with HIV through a blood transfusion. She had passed the infection along to her children Ariel (born 1981) through breast milk and Jake (born 1984) in utero. The Glasers were unable to find appropriate medicine to treat Ariel, as all existing treatments were only focused on adults.

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After Ariel died in 1988, Glaser, DeLaurentis, and Zeegen created a foundation to bring hope to children with AIDS. The organization's goal was to bring in money to help researchers in the fight against AIDS and its effects on children while also highlighting the fact that AIDS and HIV could affect children. Their three main avenues for fighting pediatric AIDS are to fund critical research, launch global health programs, and advocate for children's health. It is now the leading national non-profit organization providing funding and support for pediatric AIDS research and has expanded its mission to the worldwide AIDS pandemic.

The foundation was chaired by Elizabeth Glaser until her death in 1994. Her husband, Paul, took over until 2002, and remains as Honorary Chairman. The current chairman is Dr. David Kessler, dean and vice chancellor for Medical Affairs at the University of California, San Francisco in San Francisco, California, USA. Both DeLaurentis and Zeegen remain members of the Board.

Because of the high profile nature of Paul and Elizabeth Glaser, their efforts brought worldwide attention to the disease including a 1991 People Magazine cover, Elizabeth Glaser speaking in 1992 at the 1992 Democratic National Convention, a 2000 Beanie Baby named 'Ariel' which raised $3.4 million as a fundraiser, and a 2001 appearance before a United States Senate Committee by Paul Glaser. The foundation is a favorite cause of many celebrities including an annual celebrity golf tournament and several appearances on The Apprentice. Denise Martin's Reunion Show Controversy

During the Reunion show, Denise Martin stated that she lost her job as a lunch lady after her return from filming. Upon hearing this, the producer, Mark Burnett, gave her a $50,000 prize. The school district Denise works for has refuted her version of what happened after she returned from Survivor. According to Douglas Public School District Superintendent Nancy T. Lane, Denise asked for and received a promotion to the higher-paying full-time custodian position before filming began for Survivor. When Denise returned to work, she returned to her new position. She requested to transfer back to her old position but it was no longer available.[7] On the December 19, 2007 broadcast of The Early Show, Martin apologized, stating that it was "not [her] intention to be misleading" and asked that the $50,000 be donated to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.[8]