SAN FRANCISCO, October 18, 2011 - San Francisco AIDS Foundation and STOP AIDS Project today announced that as
of November 1, the HIV prevention programs and services of STOP AIDS Project will become a part of San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The
move will align the HIV prevention, support, and referral programs of each organization to create a more seamless system of care
and services for people at risk for and living with HIV in San Francisco.
"This is a critical time in our city's response to the epidemic, and we have a unique opportunity to strengthen
and grow important HIV prevention services in our community," said Neil Giuliano, CEO of San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "We
believe that this joining of forces moves us closer to our shared goals of radically reducing new HIV infections, ensuring everyone
knows their status, and making sure all San Franciscans living with HIV get the care they need."
The move combines the best of both agencies, resulting in a more robust portfolio of prevention and care services
for people who need information and assistance in San Francisco. Clients of San Francisco AIDS Foundation will have greater access to social
support and peer education programs offered by STOP AIDS Project. STOP AIDS participants will have greater access to case management,
housing benefits, HIV testing, and substance use services offered by San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
"This move is good for our community. STOP AIDS and San Francisco AIDS Foundation have a long history of
collaboration and share a common vision of a community in which new HIV infections are rare and people get the care they
need," said STOP AIDS Executive Director Kyriell Noon. "By joining forces, we're better positioned to serve
our clients through enhanced programs, and ultimately that will lead to a healthier community overall."
San Francisco AIDS Foundation has a history of taking on and growing important community programs and services for HIV
prevention and care. In 2007, the foundation acquired the Castro-based community health clinic, Magnet, and Stonewall, a counseling
program for gay and bisexual men who use drugs or alcohol. Since becoming part of the foundation, Magnet has almost tripled the
number of free HIV tests it provides in the Castro and expanded its staff by more than 300 percent. Similarly, Stonewall has
received mental health certification, established a second Castro-based location, and grown its staff and portfolio of
community services.
"San Francisco AIDS Foundation and STOP AIDS are leaders in providing culturally competent HIV prevention services to
communities. This legacy is reflected by the integration, which will allow the continuation and strengthening of client-centered
programs," said Barbara Garcia, Director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health. "Moving forward, DPH looks
forward to working with our community colleagues to achieve shared goals of increasing health equity and reducing new HIV
infections through efficient and effective services."
Once the combination is finalized, STOP AIDS Executive Director Kyriell Noon will become Director of Prevention Services at
the foundation. All current programs of STOP AIDS will continue to be provided at the STOP AIDS offices at 2128 15th Street.
In addition to combining HIV prevention efforts, STOP AIDS will also transfer its annual fund-raising event, Dining Out for
Life, to San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Dining Out for Life is a beloved Bay Area event that unites residents, restaurateurs, and
corporate sponsors for one special night of dining in an effort to raise money and awareness in the local fight against HIV. The
next Dining Out for Life is scheduled for April 26, 2012.
The board of directors of each agency voted to approve the combination on Wednesday, October 12. Legal documentation was
completed on Friday, October 14, and the combination will be effective on November 1. The legal aspects of the deal were managed pro
bono by Morrison & Foerster for San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Hanson Bridgett LLP for STOP AIDS.
###
About San Francisco AIDS Foundation
No U.S. city experienced epidemic levels of HIV faster than San Francisco. At San Francisco AIDS Foundation, we work to end the epidemic
where it first took hold, and eventually everywhere. Established in 1982, our mission is the radical reduction of new infections in San
Francisco. Through education, advocacy and direct services for prevention and care, we are confronting HIV in communities most
vulnerable to the disease. We refuse to accept that HIV transmission is inevitable. For more information visit: sfaf.org or facebook.com/SFAIDSFoundation.
About STOP AIDS Project
STOP AIDS Project's mission is to prevent HIV transmission among all gay, bisexual, and transgender men in San Francisco through
collaborative and multicultural community-based organizing. It was founded in 1984 by concerned and frightened community members
who invited others into their homes to discuss their fears and figure out how to protect each other in the early days of the
AIDS epidemic. For the past 27 years, that tradition of community-based and volunteer-driven health promotion has remained
at the core of all of our programs and services.
CONTACT:
James Loduca
(415) 487-3029
jloduca@sfaf.org
sfaf.org
"Reproduced with permission - San Francisco AIDS Foundation"
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
|
