Putting the Pieces Together

An AIDS Marathon participant recently asked, "I know the San Francisco AIDS Foundation fights HIV/AIDS in a variety of ways, but when my donors ask what the AIDS Foundation does, what is the best way to respond?"

Because of the broad scope of what is done at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, there is no simple answer to this question. Like a jigsaw puzzle, each of the AIDS Foundation's programs and activities is distinct, but these pieces, taken together, work to achieve our mission: to end the pandemic and human suffering caused by HIV. Our ultimate goal is to assemble all of the pieces necessary to create a world without AIDS.

"Only with a multi-layered approach that tackles the epidemic on many fronts can we hope to succeed in our mission," explains Lance Henderson, Interim Executive Director of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "Our programs are carefully designed to have the greatest possible impact on reducing HIV infections and alleviating the impact of HIV/AIDS in San Francisco, the United States and globally."

Each unique program represents a key component in our response to the challenges presented by the epidemic. These efforts range from direct client services for people living with HIV/AIDS, including client advocacy, financial benefits counseling, and housing subsidies, to programs that mobilize individuals and communities in the fight against AIDS, including our Gay Life and Black Brothers Esteem programs, and the Latino Support Group.

We also advocate for critically needed funding and legislation for people affected by HIV/AIDS through our public policy work and provide critical information and educational services, such as the California HIV/AIDS Hotline, which fields over 70,000 calls each year. The AIDS Foundation also operates the HIV Prevention Project, also known as HPP, the largest needle exchange program in the country. Through our global affiliate, the Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, we work to expand access to HIV treatments in the developing world.

We also help fight HIV/AIDS by granting hundreds of thousands of dollars to dozens of other Bay Area HIV/AIDS organizations through our community grants program, made possible by the proceeds of the AIDS Marathons and the annual San Francisco AIDS Walk.

Understandably, people often associate the agency only with the specific program, service or fundraising event with which they are most familiar. In this issue of OUTReach, we have tried to provide a complete picture of the work of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The inner two pages of this publication provide an overview that we hope will provide the community and those we serve with a more comprehensive understanding of our efforts.