paul’s letter
Providing life-affirming health
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and human services for a thriving, healthier community.
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Getting To Zero Providing life-affirming health and human services for a thriving, healthier community. That in one sentence is our simple and ambitious goal for 2018: to set a gold standard of care for those affected by HIV and to work collaboratively and boldly to reduce new HIV infections in Central Texas and drive toward a day where we have zero new HIV infections in our community. Last year we told you of our plans to expand services to include medical care for HIV positive and at risk negative individuals. This summer those plans will become a reality with the opening of a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). This evolution in services will allow ASA to amplify our capacity to serve those affected by HIV though centralized, integrated care that will empower more people than ever to thrive in our community. We remain committed to combatting stigma, providing outreach, education and prevention, to helping people overcome barriers to health, and to help our friends and neighbors affected by HIV move beyond surviving to thriving. We believe that as far as we have come over the last 30+ years there is still more work ahead of us. We believe providing our clients with integrated, centralized care is the future of HIV treatment and prevention. We believe there is a future in which we will end the epidemic. And we believe that is possible because of supporters like you. Your commitment to this vision will advance the health and well-being of the community in an innovative, efficient, and sustainable model of care. We have the power today to realize a dream that seemed unprecedented in the 80s —a generation of no new HIV cases. ASA is now part of both a statewide and local effort to end the HIV epidemic by keeping people with HIV in medical care while also leveraging HIV prevention and PrEP biomedical services to keep people HIV negative. A year ago we shared our goal to expand services to offer comprehensive medical care. You helped make that happen. Now, our goal is an HIV-free generation. We believe that you, our incredible supporters, will make that happen. Together, we are paving a way beyond survive to thrive.
Paul E. Scott, CEO
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contents vision AIDS Services of Austin envisions an empowered community commited to healthier lives, free from stigma, for people affected by HIV and AIDS.
mission The mission of AIDS Services of Austin is to enhance the health and well-being of the community and people affected by HIV and AIDS.
what’s inside
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Dining Out For Life 2018
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Program Moments
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Community Support
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Spring Events
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Thank You
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dofl 2018 dineoutatx.org
Mondo Guerra is an HIV activist and innovative,bold fashion designer who competed on Lifetime’s Project Runway Season 8 and won Project Runway All Stars in 2012.
Tuesday, April 24th All Day Long! On Tuesday, April 24 dine out at participating restaurants with friends to support the Helping Hands Food Bank and other ASA programs! Restaurants across Austin will unite in the fight against HIV by generously donating a portion of their day’s proceeds to support AIDS Services of Austin. All participating restaurants will be giving from open until close, so plan your breakfast, lunch and dinner dates now to fill your plate as well as many others’! Visit www.dineoutatx.org for details.
Pam Grier is the first African-American female to star in an action film, with some of her most famous movies including: Coffy (1973), Sheba, Baby (1975), and Jackie Brown (1997).
Pam Grier & Mondo Guerra Join DOFL! Thanks to national Dining Out For Life sponsor, Subaru of America, celebrities Pam and Mondo will be in Austin partnering with ASA for Dining Out for Life.
$75,000 goal = over 1,660 grocery allotments from our food bank
Sunday, April 22: Mondo will host a Press Brunch to kick off Dining Out for Life with local media at Swift’s Attic (more info: dineoutatx.org). Sunday, April 22: Pam will host a film screening of Jackie Brown at Alamo Drafthouse Mueller. Tickets: dineoutatx.org. Monday, April 23: Pam and Chef Wolfgang from Fabi + Rosi will lead a cooking class in our Food Bank with participants of the Women Rising Project.
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program moments Moments That Make Us Dance AIDS Services of Austin (ASA) provided Health Insurance Assistance to approximately 42 people last year, helping with enrollment, navigating marketplace plans, and assisting with medication copays.
Team pictured left to right: Sheira Gentle, Maria Esquivel, and Vanessa Rincones.
Recently, a patient was unable to afford her HIV medication and called our Health Insurance Assistance (HIA) program to get help with the high costs and retain access to life-saving treatment. It was a Friday afternoon, and the patient shared she was completely out of her medication. Sheira, pictured above, quickly began working to find same day medication assistance.
Sheira worried that three days off medication could create drug resistance within the client, and she might have to change medications entirely and potentially face negative side effects. The patient was also extremely worried about losing her health and an undetectable status she achieved with her current medication. All the necessary paperwork was completed, funding found, and a check signed all before 5pm that same day! Sheira called the patient to inform her that there was a check ready for her to pick up and cover the medication cost in full, and she stayed at the office late to ensure the patient got her check without any complications. Right after the check handoff and big hug, Sheira looked back over her shoulder and saw the patient dancing through the parking lot all the way to her car. As Sheira recalls this story she says, “It’s moments like these that I look forward to working with our patients each day.”
Our Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Is Underway ASA is excited to begin the build-out of the clinical component of our PCMH in partnership with The Moody Foundation. The clinic will serve HIV positive and high risk negative individuals integrating fully with our current suite of direct and social services providing quality, stigma free, and life-affirming care. Our medical opperating permits were just approved, so we will begin construction and open in late spring. The Moody Foundation has been a generous partner to ASA programs and services over the years including support for the Jack Sansing Dental Clinic and volunteer program. Their continued investment in the health and well-being of people affected by HIV exemplifies The Moody Foundation’s commitment to the health of the Austin community.
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community support Holiday Program Recap During the 2017 holiday season ASA supporters fufilled wishlists for 109 of our clients as part of our Holiday Program and Subaru’s #SharetheLove campaign. Together we brought holiday cheer to ASA patients and their families!
Amplify ATX Success! Amplify Austin took place on March 1-2. Presented by I Live Here I Give Here, the campaign kicked off 24 hours of city wide fundraising at 6pm on March 1st. ASA joins hundreds of nonprofits across Austin with the goal of raising millions of dollars for the community. Every gift received by ASA through Amplify Austin will support thousands of Central Texans affected by HIV and AIDS, build healthy futures for themselves and their families. Additionally, through the generous support of the St. David’s Foundation, all donations made to ASA through Amplify Austin will be amplified by a matching gift.
$150k = 6 months of Health Insurance Assistance for 80 ASA clients
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spring 2018 events april
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DOFL Kickoff National Youth Brunch & Movie HIV/AIDS (see page 5) Awareness Day
may
dineoutatx.org
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su n
thur
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octopusclub.org
Annual AIDS National Asian & Candlelight Pacific Islander HIV/ Memorial AIDS Awareness Day
ASA Open House Tour
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w ed
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To Wong Foo Juneteenth Drive-in Movie Parade & Festival
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ASA Open House Tour
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ArtErotica
june
Dining Out For Life
National HIV Testing Day
ASA Open House Tour
more details: asaustin.org/events
more details: asaustin.org/events
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28 C.K. Chin
Kevin Haynes
Kristin Mondy, MD
Dominique Bowman Vining
Hill Country Ride For AIDS hillcountryride.org
Dan Allen
Welcome New Board Members! ArtErotica 2018 On Saturday May 12, rediscover why ArtErotica is the most unique art event in Austin. From lust to love, ArtErotica has it all: painted art, sculpture, fabrication, kitsch. It has been dubbed “Austin’s Sexiest Art Show,” by the Austin Chronicle. Over the years, ArtErotica has grown into quite an experience, while benefiting the Paul Kirby Fund. The event offers something of interest for everyone: the curious, the clubber, the exhibitionist, and the voyeur. For more information please visit: www.octopusclub.org/event/art-erotica or email Christopher Alberts at: christopher.alberts@asaustin.org
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thank you ASA Staff 2018
Volunteer of the Year!
ASA staff at our annual Spring Retreat
Derrek Millett, 2017 Volunteer of the Year
2018 Board of Directors Joah Spearman, Chair ● Piper Stege Nelson, Co-Chair ● Patrick Roth, Treasurer ● Aisha White, MD, Secretary ● Noel Landuyt, Ph.D., Chair-Elect ● Fred Sultan, Past Chair ● Daniel Allen ● C.K. Chin ● Steve Flores, DDS, MS ● Kevin Haynes ● Garrett C. Higley ● Daniel Huffine ● Kristin Mondy, MD ● Daniel Montoya ● Justin Siegel ● Jennifer Sowinski ● Dominique Bowman Vining ● Leslie Wingo ● David P. Wright, MD ● Board Fellows: Chase Daughtridge ● Sydney Wong
2018 ASA Directors Paul E. Scott, CEO ● Susan E. Campion, Chief Programs Officer ● Christopher Alberts, Director of Development ● Erika Hobbs-Sessions, Director of Finance ● Alberto Barragan, Director of Prevention ● Sandra Chavez, Director of Direct Services ● Jeannie Nelson, Director of Dental Services ● Melissa Rios, Director of Access Services ● Leah Graham, Director of Grant Resources ● Vikki Whorton, Director of Human Resources