June 2011 Progress Report
The Intersection Project, as created by D.A.P. client Paul, has been underway for weeks with the full support of his loving wife and four children – all of whom are HIV-negative. His 17-year-old daughter, who hopes to become a disease-specialist doctor, often stands on corners with Paul and his sign. This father-daughter team also participated in the making of our “AIDS is not over” public service announcement. Paul’s silent one-man campaign is about encouraging people to get tested, to stay negative if HIV-free, and to get into care if positive. As a straight, Latino man, Paul understands all too well the cultural biases and stigma that surrounds HIV and AIDS, because many people still regard it as a “gay disease.” But Paul always counters with “It’s HIV, not GIV,” reminding us that, as humans, we ALL have the potential for HIV exposure. Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, Paul is quietly reminding us that it’s time to get past the fear and the judgment that many still associate with this disease. Despite a complete loss of funding for HIV prevention education from the California state budget, Desert AIDS Project has never stopped offering free and confidential HIV testing five days a week. Read more about "HIV Awareness at the Intersection" by Helen Holdun
June 2011 Progress Report
Dear Desert AIDS Project Supporter: As the 30th year of the AIDS epidemic approached in 2011, we were delighted when the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law in March 2010. The release of the long-promised National HIV/AIDS Strategy in July added further encouragement. When the four-year reauthorization of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act was signed by President Obama in October, it must have seemed to the world that the U.S. was more serious than ever about helping its citizens deal with this global problem.
Maybe … we were turning the corner from deep disappointments like the 2009
California State Budget’s $85 million cut to AIDS programs. Those cuts served to almost completely wipe out our HIV education efforts to a broad variety of groups that are most at-risk, like gay men, people of color, seniors, and others.
Maybe … the ongoing threats to the essential AIDS Drugs Assistance Program
(ADAP) – which helps defray the average annual per-patient cost of $25,000 or more for medications – would be put to rest once and for all. Denying this funding plays a life-and-death game with those who are living with HIV or AIDS, many of whom are living below the Federal Poverty Level and have no other recourse for paying for their costly medications.
Sadly, “maybe” has changed to “not yet.” • Affordable Care Act – Most of the significant advantages of healthcare reform affecting those living with HIV/AIDS don’t begin until 2014. In the meantime, 30% of HIV+ people nationwide have no insurance coverage at all.
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• National HIV/AIDS Strategy – While it has a goal of lowering the number of new infections by 25% by 2015 and reducing HIV transmission by 30%, our local HIV infection rate continues to average almost three times the national rate! It’s not yet clear how the Strategy plans to address key areas of concern like this. • California’s State Budget – The massive funding cuts of 2009 so far show no signs of rebounding and our state’s ADAP program continues to hang by a thread. Although fundraising for nonprofits continues to be a challenge during these admittedly tough economic times, I am happy to report that Desert AIDS Project met its revenue goals during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2010. Although the current fiscal year has been quite a bit more challenging, we are confident that your continued support will help us to go on, fulfilling our missions of HIV/AIDS care, prevention, and advocacy. Whether you contribute money, time, or talent, it’s your support that makes it possible for us to provide essential medical and social services for our clients. A special thanks to the community leaders, donors, board members, volunteers, staff, and clients who recently helped us produce an award-winning public service campaign to tell everyone that “AIDS is not over”!! With your help, we have sustained our commitment for almost 27 years. We’ll be here for another 27, if necessary, to keep moving necessary funding and public support for HIV/AIDS from “not yet” to “maybe” to “absolutely yes.” Sincerely,
David Brinkman CEO
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We think of it as a variation on the “It takes a village to raise a child� philosophy. Our current operating budget of $11.2 million comes from a variety of sources that includes government support, grants from corporations and foundations, our chain of Revivals stores, and YOU. Whether you donate your time, money, or talent, your help is essential in helping us to meet the needs of those living with or affected by HIV and AIDS here in our community.
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Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards
Palm Springs AIDS Walk
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Dining Out for Life
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Les Dames du Soleil
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Celebrity Doodles
Tour de Palm Springs
Dinner at My Place
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June 5th marks 30 years since the first report of AIDS - a syndrome that has killed an estimated 25 million people worldwide. Yet this year’s anniversary is somewhat arbitrary: the virus responsible for AIDS has probably been circulating within human populations for 100 years. Read the entire story here.
An estimated 33.4 million people worldwide are now living with HIV. In the United States, there are approximately 1.1 million people living with the virus. Less than 40% of young people have basic information about HIV, and less than 40% of people worldwide living with HIV know their serostatus. Globally, men who have sex with men are 19 times more likely to be infected with HIV than the general population. And the number of HIV-infected women has increased so rapidly over the past three decades that, worldwide, women now make up half of all people living with HIV. The number of women living with HIV in the U.S. has tripled in the past two decades. The number of new HIV infections continues to outstrip the number of people on treatment – for every two people starting treatment, a further five become infected with the virus. Despite considerable progress, global efforts to treat “HIV-ers” remain insufficient. Only 42% of people in need of antiretroviral medications in 2008 had access – but that’s compared to only 35% in 2007. While it’s no surprise that HIV is largely a disease of the poor, the U.S. is just beginning
to prove it. In July of 2010, Paul Denning, MD, a medical epidemiologist at the CDC, coauthored “Communities in Crisis: Is There a Generalized HIV Epidemic in Impoverished Urban Areas of the United States?,” a study that found that people living below the poverty line – an income of $10,830 per year for a single adult, or $22,050 for a family of four – are five times as likely as the nation’s general population to be HIV-positive, regardless of their race or ethnicity. Even more shocking: when analyzing data from 9,000 heterosexual, “low-risk” adults, Denning and his colleagues found that poor urban areas of the U.S. have HIV prevalence rates that are on par with Burundi, Ethiopia, Angola, and Haiti. “We need to address larger environmental issues, such as poverty, homelessness and substance abuse, which are well beyond the traditional scope of HIV intervention,” said Kevin Fenton, MD, the director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention. “Addressing those is as essential to HIV prevention as providing condoms.” Sources: UNAIDS, “AIDS Epidemic Update 2009”; UNAIDS, “Towards Universal Access: Scaling Up Priority HIV/AIDS Interventions in the Health Sector: Progress Report 2009”; WHO/UNAIDS/UNICEF, September 2009; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; “AMFAR, MSM, HIV, and the Road to Universal Access – How Far Have we Come?” August 2008.
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There were a number of topics discussed at the “AIDS 2010: XVIII International AIDS Conference” held in Vienna, Austria in July that provide hope for the future of dealing with HIV/AIDS. Click the hyperlinks, if you’d like further detail on any of these topics. •
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Test-and-Treat. Studies have shown that when people know they have HIV, they are more careful not to infect others. Becoming “undetectable” on antiretroviral therapy – why Paul’s children (see front cover) were born HIV-negative – makes people less infectious. The goal of “test-and-treat” is to make both happen on a community-wide scale. CAPRISA study on the tenofovir gel spermicide. Although just 39% effective in preventing vaginal transmission, it could be an important new line of defense as the first spermicide that can significantly prevent HIV heterosexual transmission. Another study is about to begin on another tenofovir gel specifically designed to prevent, or at least reduce, HIV transmission through anal sex. That gel faces more of a challenge as HIV is about 20 times more readily transmittable this way. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Medical professionals stuck by HIVinfected needles may go on HIV antiviral therapy to prevent being infected. This “post-exposure prophylaxis” works if the meds are started immediately and maintained over a certain time. PrEP operates on the same principle and appears to be working, according to a study presented
at the AIDS 2010 Conference. The study involved 400 uninfected gay men in two groups who daily took either the HIV med Viread (tenofovir) or a placebo. No one in the Viread group became infected. However, a study published in The Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome showed that some who may take PrEP will reduce their safer sex practices. Planned studies will help to better determine how well PrEP really works. •
Adult Circumcision. Shown to reduce HIV heterosexual transmission, adult circumcision effectively removes foreskin cells susceptible to HIV. University of Pittsburgh researchers asked gay and bisexual uncircumcised American males whether they would take “the cut” if it was shown it would protect them from HIV. The number responding affirmatively was so small that starting circumcision programs for gay/bi men would likely prove to be of limited public health benefit.
For more complete information about the AIDS 2010 Conference, read the 39-page report entitled “Advancing Evidence and Equity: Report on the XVII International AIDS Conference.”
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Our mission, community service values, and guiding principles have driven our dedication to thousands of clients. Many D.A.P. staff members display what you see on these two pages as “wallpaper” on their computer monitors – so that they never lose sight of what drives us every day.
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Our Values !
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Guiding Principles ! ’
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Members of our Partners for Life help us to fund critical programs and services to those living with, affected by, or at-risk for HIV/AIDS right here in our community.
Platinum David Kaplan & Glenn Ostergaard Gregory Seller & Pasquale Bettino
Gold Norman Halliday & Douglas Jones Dr. Tim Jochen & Lee Erwin Andrew Z. Linsky** & Michael Thomas * David Morgan Craig Simrell & Mark Greganti
Sterling Curtis Barber & Tim Carlson Rick Hutcheson & Rob Kincaid Thomas Jakway & Stephen Tripp Steve Lachs & Michael Ruvo Yvonne & Bill McCallum Thomas G. O’Mara & Ronald M. Durkop Mark Perlmutter & John Albrecht Curtis Ringness, Jr. & Barry E. Ralph Rob Roy & Eddie Swaim Steve Winters & Don Curtis
Silver Taylor Baird & Roger Allen Hoyl Belt Michael P. Carson & Dr. Ronald W. Steigerwalt Jim Casey & Jason Altieri Brian M. Cleary, MD & Domenique Wulfekuhle John Conboy Larry Espinosa Edward Flottemesch Randy George & Chuck Collins Prescott Griffith & Joel Wolfgang Ted Jarvis & Ted Briggs Patrick Jordan & Donald Stanton Steve Kaufer Edward Killam * Walter Leiss Mark Loeffler Chris Longobucco & David DeMuro Mark M. Maslack, MD Perry S. McKay Gordon Moller & Charles Townsend Mike Muttart & Nick Tsepelis Edward Oehler & Ed Haines Marshall Pearcy & Douglas Woodmansee Gary P. Riley & Jeff Grosvenor Rick Rockhill & John Lazarchic
Russ Russell Bob Seale & Ron McManigal Stewart Smith & Gerard Smith Paul Swerdlove & Elgart Aster Daniel Warn & Ricardo Aguilar * Jack P. Woods & Robert Hartupee Jules Young & Matthew Russell
Bronze Steven Allen & Mark Winsten Richard Alther & Ray Repp Allan Ames & Cary Lowe Jeffrey Bach & Chris Campbell Kevin Bass Dr. Steven J. Berchenko Norman Blachford & Peter Cooper David Brinkman & Joseph Hahn Rob Burrington & Julian di Ciurcio Marlin Connole & Ron Rishky Barry Dayton & Mark Marshall David De Lisle Bill DeHart & David Kamimoto Donald Devine & Roger Senter Phillip L. Doolittle Michael Eicksteadt Benson Fenn Stewart Fleishman, M.D. & Bruce Radler, DPM Dr. Burton D. Fogelman & Donald Crouse Stafford Fredericks Earl Gauger & Wayne Weiss Robert H. Geiser & Robert A. Berey Fred Goepfert & Chris Pallas Robert S. Greenbaum Roman Gronkowski, Jr. Raymond Harper & David Hodge Mark Hayek Bob Hayes & Jim Burba Michael H. Hayes Michael Hilgenberg & Heath Hilgenberg Aubrey Dean Jenkins Kenneth F. Jenkins Fred Kelley, III & David Hill * John F. Kimberling Brandt Kuhn Steve & Jill Langham Robert Lashbrook Eugene Leone & Art Williams Gerald A. Levin & William R. Huff, Jr. Phillip Lumpkin
John Mahoney & Michael Chedester Jim B. Mallory Raymond Manci & Kevin Tabor John & Irene Mancini John Marksbury & Charles Steinman Michael Anthony Martinez Mike Mellenger Mark Messenger & Peter Demopoulos Michael Miner & Chip Marler Melissa Morgan Michael Muller & Bryan Arnold Keith Nielsen Christopher Norman & F. Albert Weaver Stanley Papel Gary & Barbara Petrauski Greg Polzin Dominick N. Procaccino Bruce Purdy & Barrett Shepard Arturo Quinones Todd Rainey & Frank Tai Morris Ratner & Christopher Dydyk Willie Rhine & Albert Gonzalez Tony Rios & Bill Scott Peter Rittenhouse Lonnie Roy & Miles Lichterman Stan Russell & Gil Rose Jay Saufl & Christopher Schlegel Bill Scheffler & Ann Sheffer Brian Schipper & Rick Lord Lanny Seese, M.D. & Mark Miller Axel Shalson Steve Sharp Murray Specktor Richard I. Torban, M.D. * Hugh Van Horn Rick Vila & Ken Lyon Bates Westerberg William C. Wheeler, Jr. Jim Whitten Randy Wiemer Jeffrey Wright
Copper Rev. & Mrs. Andrew Green * *Founding Member **Founder of Partners for Life as of June 1, 2011
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The 100 WOMEN program is dedicated to improving community and medical services for women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Sterling Mrs. Lawrence (Mary) Cone Amanda L. Smith Silver Tammy Fox Joy M. Hamilton, M.D. Bronze Leslie Barclay Kathleen M. Bennett Nancy Bleiweiss-Nevil Annette Bloch Becky Bowles & Rhonda L. Mann Kathie Browne, Attorney at Law Kathleen Buys Traci Crosbie Christie Moon Crother Chelsea Montgomery Duban Sylvia Duban Karen Falen Barbara Fromm
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Harriet Goldberg Stephanie Greene Melanie Gurk Barbara Keller Shubha Kerkar, M.D., & Jay Kerkar Terril Ketover Sue Knollenberg & Marsha Gronseth Peggy Sue Lane S. Ava Mahapatra, M.D. Christy Majors Reesa Manning Cookie Miller Kristin Olson Pamela Plick Barbara Schlager Leslie Sholl Jaffe Karolee Sowle Lynne Toles Susan Unger & Pam Erwin Marjorie Victor Karen Vizer Pat Walthers
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Emeritus Chris Bender Ron Rishky Fernando Sanchez 6,000 Hours Roger Schwarzin
4,000 Hours Louis Mujica 2,000 Hours Larry Harper Willis Low Bob Ventresca Dennis Wilson
Chair – Curt Ringness Vice Chair – Hon. Steve Lachs Treasurer -– Fred Drewette Secretary – Tammy Fox Ted Briggs
1,000 Hours Dana Christenson George Garcia Herb Gutin Peter Kostrobala Janet Lower Juan Ramos Rick Scarborough
Kathie Brown Jim Casey Steve Kaufer Barbara Keller Gary Riley
500 Hours Robert Adams Joe Beaver Rochelle Charo Mark George Helen Grove Steve Hembd Jack James Paul Johner Bob Muehl Eric Pedersen Ray Perea Daniel Perry
Russ Russell Lanny Seese Gregg Seller Karolee Sowle Stephen Winters
Peter Kostrobala has been volunteering in the Information Systems department since August of 2010, quickly becoming invaluable to the D.A.P. staff. Peter was also instrumental in the success of the Steve Chase Gala’s Silent auction accounting system, enabling us to quickly calculate the auction winners. Peter is one of those volunteers who keeps us saying, “we couldn’t do it without you.”
Katie Glasser has been volunteering at our Revivals stores since 2009. Her savvy merchandising skills and eagle eye for name brand clothing have helped triple sales in that department for two months in a row at the Revivals Gallery store in the Sun Center. Katie’s husband, Todd, a retired policeman, often helps out too. We’ll continue to look forward to the return of these snowbirds each autumn!
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Read more about Julian’s decision to join Partners Forever.
June 2011 Progress Report