The Miami Herald, Inc.; Monday, July 7, 1997
Gail Meadows, Herald Staff Writer
Still, agencies succeed. The Fort Lauderdale's Children's Diagnostic Treatment Center sends kids to camp; the Children's Home Society in Dade envelops preschoolers in a protective environment.
Now comes Kidzcare, an effort by Al Evans, president of the United Foundation for AIDS, to establish a system of making kids' lives a little more pleasant with gifts, trips and the like. It could offer tickets to the circus, trips to Parrot Jungle, sneakers, clothes or sporting goods.
Helping him are Michelle Burger , who recently resigned as an aide to Miami Beach Mayor Seymour Gelber, and Amy Pearlson, wife of Miami Beach Commissioner David Pearlson. Gloria Estefan has agreed to be honorary chair.
Their first act, late last month, was to present six 5-year-olds with backpacks loaded with pens, pencils and other supplies for entry into kindergarten. But Pearlson acknowledges that expanding the endeavor could be difficult. The trio has a three-page list of agencies that deal with youths but has had no luck determining precisely how many children are infected or exactly how to reach them.
Said Burger: "Duplicating services is not our goal."
The trio's quandary underscores a dilemma faced daily when confidentiality is a factor. There is always a vast need but, often, no quick way to meet it.
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