Gross family donates $50,000 to HIV/AIDS nonprofit

A Laguna Beach family made a $50,000 surprise donation to help provide HIV testing to at-risk Orange County residents.

The William and Sue Gross Family Foundation made the donation last week to the AIDS Services Foundation Orange County, or ASF, a nonprofit that helps people affected by HIV/AIDS with housing, transportation, food, mental health counseling and emergency financial assistance.

The organization also does HIV testing, prevention and educational programs.

“Bill and I are very proud to support ASF as they work toward ending both the spread of HIV and the incidence of AIDS in our community,” Sue Gross said in a prepared statement. “As we’ve seen in our efforts in other parts of the world, the sooner you become aware, the greater the likelihood of successful treatment and a better life. We believe this program will make an impact on Orange County.”

Bill Gross co-founded Newport Beach-based investment firm PIMCO.

This summer, ASF launched “Take the Initiative. Take the Test,” a campaign to promote HIV testing. The campaign works toward the organization’s goal to end AIDS in Orange County.

For more information on ASF, visit https://www.ocasf.org.

—Britney Barnes

Twitter: @britneyjbarnes