In Focus #17: December 2003

From Desk of the Executive Director …

Ellen LaPointe, Executive Director

Autumn. As a child growing up in the Northeast, the arrival of fall inevitably brought me feelings of loss over things ending—like shorts-and-bare-feet weather, endless days, and the freedoms of summer vacation, along with hopeful anticipation for things to come—like the activities of a new school year, the changing of the leaves, and my birthday. Over time, I learned to embrace these conflicting feelings as part of the fabric of the season, and of life, and found myself energized and renewed by them.

I left my childhood behind long ago (more or less!), and I haven’t called the Northeast home in over a decade. Nevertheless, the change of season at this time of year still triggers feelings of both loss and hope as I reflect on what has passed and what still lies ahead.

This fall, the feelings of loss are especially difficult to bear. On October 10, Project Inform lost one of its dearest friends, longtime volunteer and Board member Bill Sprick. Through his long and difficult bout with AIDS, Bill’s enormous contributions to the work of Project Inform and the people we serve were immeasurable, and he inspired all who knew him with his words and his example. We will miss him terribly, and we will always remember his spirit and honor his name.

For Bill, a cure for AIDS did not come soon enough. Looking forward, I realize that in spite of—or perhaps because of—the pain of losing this magnificent soul, I still feel that familiar burst of autumn energy. I look forward with hope to the day when a cure for AIDS is found, and I renew my commitment to doing what I can to help that day to arrive. On behalf of all of us at Project Inform, I extend my deepest thanks to you for joining in this effort.

Best wishes to you and yours for a healthy and peaceful autumn, holiday season, and New Year.

Project Inform Welcomes New Board Member: Karen Hartwig

Karen Hartwig joined the Board of Directors in October of this year and brings a wealth of marketing and business acumen to Project Inform’s activities and plans for the future.

“I believe there is a great deal of work to be done to help those diagnosed with and living with HIV,” says Ms. Hartwig. “I believe that Project Inform has the quality of leadership, support and importantly, the passion, to truly make a difference. While my introduction to Project Inform was professional, it very quickly developed into more of a personal belief in the organization and desire to support it.”

Ms. Hartwig has been the Vice President of Marketing at Novacea, Inc. since January 2003, when she joined the company bringing extensive marketing experience in product launches. Previously, she was Vice President of Marketing at another biotechnology company where she established the marketing function and played a pivotal role in the commercialization and development of its product portfolio. Welcome, Karen!

Project Inform Receives Google Grant

Google recently launched Google Grants, a test program that provides free Google AdWords advertising to selected non-profits that apply to the program. Project Inform was selected to participate in the program, and our text-based ads now appear alongside or above Google search results whenever someone enters a search into Google that matches the keywords (for example, AIDS advocacy, SIDA, AIDS treatment) selected for our campaign. Clicking on the ad takes the searcher to our website, www.projectinform.org, where they can find additional information.

Google, the world’s largest search engine, offers the fastest, easiest way to find information on the web and responds to more than 200 million search queries per day. Google is one of the 10 most popular sites on the Internet, and is used around the world by millions of people. The Google search engine is available in 88 language interfaces.

Project Inform’s Annual Fete Raises Hope

Executive Director Ellen LaPointe greets some of this year’s honorees at the Evening of Hope reception. (l to r) Lilia Garcia-Leyva of M•A•C AIDS Fund; Skip Mooney, (Ellen) and Tom Viola of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Duane Cramer shares a moment with Project Inform Board President Alonzo Reese and Board Member Tom Kelley.
Nearly 400 people gathered at the Merchants Exchange Ballroom in downtown San Francisco October 14 to raise more than $285,000 to support Project Inform’s HIV/AIDS treatment education and advocacy programs. Replete with mingling, sumptuous food, a world-class silent auction, and entertainment by a local African dance troupe, Project Inform’s annual Evening of Hope also served as a call to action—a reminder to remain vigilant in our quest for a cure.

Martin Delaney, Project Inform’s Founding Director spoke eloquently about the need to continue pushing for a cure. “ … we get only what we demand and fight for. Project Inform will settle for nothing less than a cure.”

“So many of you have supported Project Inform for years, and you know us well,” Executive Director Ellen LaPointe noted. “You know that Project Inform stands for integrity and trust. We seek every day to inspire those affected by HIV and AIDS to stay the course, work alongside us, and believe that the day will arrive when AIDS is over.”

Three of Project Inform’s closest collaborators received awards this year. The recipients included the M•A•C AIDS Fund, which continues to build strategic partnerships to ensure the global response to HIV remains a priority for philanthropic and corporate funders worldwide; Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, one of the very few organizations in the U.S. specifically funding public policy advocacy for HIV; and the Comprehensive Health Center of San Diego, which was recognized as a model community partner for addressing the needs of underserved populations, especially Latinos, African Americans and the Deaf community.

This year also marks an impressive landmark for longtime Project Inform board member Tom Kelley and the dedicated supporters of Evening of Hope he has brought to us. We are so proud and deeply grateful to announce that Tom’s consistent and significant efforts have now raised over $1 million to benefit our programs and the people who count on us every day.

Thanks to all who helped make this year’s signature event a success!

Three Local Long-term Supporters
Shine in the Corporate and Foundation Spotlight

Always a consistent supporter of our programs, Kaiser Permanente significantly expanded its partnership with us last year through their Cares for Communities national grant program.

Over the last two years, Kaiser has committed $100,000 to Project Inform’s Integrated Treatment Education Program. This tremendously generous grant comes at a time when financial support for domestic AIDS programs from corporate and foundation donors is diminishing.

According to Raymond Baxter, Senior Vice President of Kaiser Permanente’s Community Benefit Program, “As the largest not-for-profit healthcare plan in the country, Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to improving the health of our communities, and recognizes Project Inform for developing and communicating the evidence base for a wide range of treatments available for populations affected by HIV/AIDS. As our community benefit goals include addressing the healthcare needs of vulnerable populations and helping consumers make knowledgeable decisions, we are pleased to provide continuing support to Project Inform’s Integrated Treatment Education Program through our KP Cares for Communities National Grant Program.”

Kaiser Permanente’s Community Benefit Program is one of the largest healthcare community benefit or philanthropic ventures in the nation, providing hundreds of millions of dollars each year in direct community benefit investments. This includes caring for vulnerable populations through Medicaid, and subsidizing comprehensive healthcare for thousands of adults and children in need. Kaiser Permanente also funds community-based health initiatives, develops innovative health education programs, and conducts research to advance medical knowledge.

Project Inform v. Uphill Battles: Committed to challenging the laws of convention, Heller Ehrman has stood beside Project Inform by providing significant sponsorship of events such as our annual Evening of Hope and pro bono counsel on a variety of legal matters as we continue our work to educate our communities and help people fight AIDS. Heller Ehrman lawyers follow a long tradition of professional and community service. The firm is well known for the quality and breadth of its pro bono legal practice, serving indigent clients and a variety of community and non-profit organizations in litigation and other legal matters.

Like Heller Ehrman, we at Project Inform continue to challenge ourselves and the conventional wisdom that suggests we ought not to hope for too much. In the most recent edition of our comprehensive treatment journal PI Perspective, we underscored the notion that in the battle against AIDS we get what we demand. And while anti-HIV therapies have extended the lives of many, we cannot and should not take our collective eyes off the prize: a cure. This, indeed, is our ultimate uphill battle—and it’s one worth fighting. We are proud to include Heller Ehrman among our partners in this fight.

Early on, Levi Strauss & Company recognized the huge impact HIV/AIDS would have among its employees and customers. Rather than wringing its hands and doing nothing, LS&Co. was among the first to assume leadership in combating this disease.

Not only have they contributed more than $25 million in grants for AIDS care and prevention in the last two decades, LS&Co. has been at the forefront of AIDS in the workplace programs and policies that have been replicated throughout corporate America.

As part of its overall philanthropic activity, LS&Co. encourages its employees to give back to their communities through employee-led Community Involvement Teams (CITs). According to Todd Kalk, co-chair of LS&Co.’s AIDS Action Group CIT, the focal point for grant payouts this year embraced an employee volunteer element, feeling strongly that employee volunteerism be tightly tied to how it distributes grants among community agencies.

“Levi Strauss & Co. is thrilled to award a grant to Project Inform in 2003, in honor of our longstanding partnership,” Kalk said. “We are particularly proud of our employee volunteers who, by donating their time and efforts to such events as AIDS Walk 2003 and Academy of Friends, made the grant possible.”

In selecting Project Inform as one of its grant recipients, Kalk says several factors were considered, including employee interest in various events, agencies’ missions and the services they provide to the community.

Project Inform Intern Develops Health Advocate Network in Iowa to Protect Medicaid

One of the strengths of Project Inform’s public policy department has been the strong presence of volunteers and interns in our advocacy efforts. In previous years, this involvement has resulted in notable projects, including the development of Treatment Action Network (Project Inform’s grassroots action network), a meeting with local faith leaders to discuss HIV policy issues, and the first women’s lobby day at the State Capitol in Sacramento. These efforts not only help us fulfill our mission of advocating on behalf of people with HIV, but they also bring new advocates into the policy arena.

This year, this tradition continued with Alicia Dithmart, an intern who has worked tirelessly to protect Medicaid from harmful funding cuts and program changes. Alicia came to us from Iowa shortly after graduating from high school. She quickly realized that she had an interest in being a part of our policy efforts, a strong ability to engage community members and inspire them to communicate with their elected officials. During her internship, Alicia organized a strong network of HIV/AIDS and other health advocates in Iowa to advocate with Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) to protect Medicaid. This Senator was critical as he chairs the committee that oversees this program.

Although her internship at Project Inform has ended, Alicia continues her remarkable advocacy back home. She organized a successful district meeting with advocates in Iowa and Senator Grassley’s staff to continue the discussion about the importance of Medicaid for people living with HIV. Her work connecting those most affected by HIV and their elected officials ensures that key policy-makers have the input needed from their constituents.

New advocates are in great demand given the many challenges we are facing in the current political climate. Alicia’s story demonstrates the potential of expanding the pool of advocates by including volunteers and interns—particularly youth—who can put their skills, knowledge, and energy to use for the benefit of people living with HIV. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about volunteer and intern opportunities at Project Inform, contact Mark Owens at 415-558-8669 x218 or volunteer@projectinform.org.

Bike Rides Throughout Italy and New England Raise $164,000

l to r: George Cominskie, Jen Milton, Ride Coordinator Robbie Webber, Julie Rucinski, Darrell Mazura, Maria Bahena and Steve Giovangnoli.

RideFAR cyclists in a rare moment of repose, enjoy bottled water courtesy of sponsor Trinity mineral water.
Eight dedicated cyclists who have biked all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe to help fund the fight against HIV/AIDS, combined serious luxury with serious fundraising during their week-long October trip through the rolling hills of northern Italy. The second annual Ride For A Cause in Tuscany raised more than $27,000 for Project Inform, AIDS Foundation Chicago, and four other organizations selected by the riders themselves.

Project Inform would also like to extend our special appreciation to Suzy Becker and the 25 riders and crew of Ride For AIDS Resources 8, who cycled 500 miles through the beautiful back roads of New England and raised a record $137,000 for Project Inform, Pediatric AIDS Call to Action Project, and 25 community-based AIDS service organizations selected by the riders themselves. Concurrent with this ride, Project Inform co-hosted a Town Meeting with AIDS Project Worcester.

One hundred percent of funds raised from both rides directly support the beneficiaries. Our heartfelt thanks to these two dedicated groups of fundraisers who continue to make these cycling events a resounding success!