The Reason
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
Established in 1982, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation is one of the oldest AIDS service organizations in the United States. With a staff of 60 and an annual budget of $16 million, SFAF offers a comprehensive array of critical services such as financial benefits counseling, needle exchange, client advocacy, housing assistance and the California AIDS Hotline (800-367-AIDS), annually serving 120,000 individuals impacted by HIV and AIDS.
In November 2001 the Foundation created a global affiliate — the Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation — which focuses on treatment access and vaccine preparedness efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa.
A non-profit, community-based organization, SFAF reaches over 1.5 million other individuals through community outreach, advocacy efforts, treatment publications, prevention campaigns and the Web (www.sfaf.org, www.gaylife.org, and www.AIDSHotline.org).
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has been a leader in battling AIDS and caring for those who are HIV-infected since the earliest days of the pandemic. The Center's Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic offers free primary and specialty medical care and distributes more than $13 million worth of HIV medications to those who can't afford treatment.
For those who are struggling with their HIV infection and dealing with substance abuse, low self-esteem or any other mental health issue, the Center offers one-on-one and group therapy.
The Center tests 700-1,000 people for HIV each month and was one of the first in the nation to adopt rapid HIV testing. A mobile unit — POW! (Prevention on Wheels) — takes HIV testing and counseling directly to those who are at-risk and hard to reach, primarily gay, bisexual and transgender youth-of-color. Those who test positive have immediate access to the Center's medical and mental health services.
To reduce the spread of HIV, the Center offers a myriad of education, prevention, and advocacy services, including Man2Man, WeHo LIFE (www.weholife.org), Positive Images and HIV Stops With Me (www.hivstopswithme.org). The Center also operates the California AIDS Clearinghouse, which develops and provides culturally appropriate HIV educational materials and training to community-based organizations and healthcare providers throughout California.