Two local nonprofit organizations will receive nearly a million dollars over the next four years to help prevent the spread of HIV among younger Latino men. 

Chicanos Por La Causa and One-n-ten are the recipients of the funds. Jimmy Thomason is the executive director of Aunt Rita’s Foundation, which will help distribute dollars to those organizations through its newly created Glen Spencer Ending Epidemic Fund, which was named after Aunt Rita's former executive director, Glen Spencer. 

"So the reason we chose Chicanos Por La Causa and One-n-Ten is because the younger population 20 to 29 is the most likely to contract HIV," he said. "And the Latinx population is the highest incidence rate by number and percentage in Arizona."

Latinx is the gender-neutral expression. Thomason says the money will be used to focus on PrEP navigation. PrEP is a once daily pill that can help reduce the chances of contracting HIV. Navigators help support individuals who want to access the drug.

Aunt Rita’s also plans to use a small percentage of the dollars to establish a Diversity and Cultural Council.