San Francisco (October 15, 2007) - Dana Van Gorder, Director of State and Local Policy at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, will become Executive Director of Project Inform, the pioneering San Francisco-based treatment advocacy organization.  Van Gorder, who is associated with a body of legislative advocacy that has shaped HIV/AIDS treatment, care and funding in California for nearly a decade, will begin his new position on November 15.

"Among advocates for sound HIV prevention, treatment and funding policies in California, Dana Van Gorder is without peer," said Mark Cloutier, Executive Director of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.  "I do not believe the state has adopted a single important piece of HIV/AIDS legislation without him, nor can I envision the future of HIV/AIDS-related public policy lacking Dana's contributions.  Dana's leadership at the local and state level has led to funding and policy decisions that have saved thousands of lives and protected the rights of people living with HIV. Fortunately for all of us, Dana's new role as leader of Project Inform gives him tremendous opportunity to enhance his own remarkable record."

Working with peers from all over the state, Dana Van Gorder has been responsible for major legislative accomplishments including the recent allocation of $30 million over three years to educate Californians about the close connection between HIV infection and crystal methamphetamine use.  Van Gorder convened the California HIV Alliance and has played a key role in assuring that the AIDS Drugs Assistance Program has been adequately funded and sufficiently well managed to meet the needs of low income Californians living with HIV.

"Since 2000, I have collaborated with some of the smartest, most committed and effective people working to end HIV," Van Gorder said.  "I am extremely proud of the Foundation's achievements, seeing to it that the State of California does everything it can to prevent and treat HIV infection and serves as a model for the nation in its response to the epidemic."

Van Gorder points to a number of peer organizations who have been instrumental to his productive lobbying work in Sacramento, including many of the premier HIV providers in the state as well as the Governor's staff, the Legislature's Lesbian & Gay Caucus and the State Office of AIDS.

In his career at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Van Gorder has also been responsible for:

• Strengthening California laws to increase access to sterile syringes to prevent HIV transmission among injection drug users;
• Playing a key role in assuring that HIV-positive Californians eligible for the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit had full assistance with cost-sharing obligations and were prepared for the transition to this new program;
• Securing state funding increases for other vital state HIV programs including therapeutic monitoring, prevention and education and primary medical care;
• Advocating to change state laws to increase access to HIV testing among high-risk individuals; and
• Protecting housing funds for HIV-positive San Franciscans and helping protect local HIV services from federal cuts.

Project Inform was founded in 1985 by Martin Delaney and other members of the community who sought to stimulate pharmaceutical development, encourage testing and disseminate treatment information."  Delaney announced his retirement from Project Inform concurrent with Van Gorder's accepting the organization's helm.  Over more than 20 years, Project Inform has supported broad access to treatment and has been an advocate at the national level, promoting research, expanded access, and a cure for HIV infection.

"The standard of thoughtfulness and quality set by the Foundation prepares me to lead Project Inform.  I am deeply appreciative of the support of the Foundation's leader, Mark Cloutier, as I shift my focus to assuring the continued strength of Project Inform as a full partner in our shared mission to end HIV/AIDS," said Van Gorder.