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JOIN NAPWA'S 2008 Year-End APPEAL
Dear NAPWA Supporter:
World AIDS Day - December 1st, 2008 is a day of hope with the promise of courageous leadership by President -Elect Barack Obama. Even in these most challenging economic times, it is with great pride that I share with you the National Association of People with AIDS programs are thriving and meeting the needs of 1.2 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS. Please accept this letter as an impassioned plea for your financial support as the demand for our services significantly exceeds our present resources.
During 2008 NAPWA was very successful in cultivating cross-sector alliances, forming numerous long-term strategic partnerships and diversifying our revenue base. These actions helped to assure that NAPWA's programs continue to grow and minimize any reliance upon any single funding source. Following are examples of our 2008 accomplishments that were only possible through your generous support of NAPWA:
- 22,000 complimentary HIV tests were distributed to 79 communities who participated in the NAPWA - OraSure Mayors Campaign Against HIV on National HIV Testing Day.
- 179 congressional visits were held with legislators during AIDSWatch, our constituent-based legislative advocacy program. An alliance of 11 national organizations participated and supported the program to educate our legislators on the need for increased appropriations for HIV/AIDS services.
- NAPWA's AIDS In America program was launched and has grown significantly. The American Psychological Association, Hepatitis Foundation International, and others collaborate with us to conduct HIV and Hepatitis testing, mental health screenings, educational sessions on emerging HIV treatments and Hepatitis/Liver health.
- NAPWA helped to launch two new HIV/AIDS Awareness Days:
- July 21 - National Clinicians HIV Testing and Awareness Day lead by the National Minority AIDS Education And Training Center of Howard University and in partnership with CAEAR Coalition Foundation;
- September 27 - Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with numerous partners.
- Both HIV/AIDS Awareness Days are vital to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma and assure individual's access to and retention in HIV treatment and care.
I hope you take great pride in knowing that these programs help all Americans receive the health care they dearly need to attain their highest quality of life. Given the fact that over 250,000 Americans are unaware of their HIV+ status we must not lose another generation due to apathy or ineffectual HIV public policy and programs. For these reasons, I ask you to generously contribute to NAPWA so we can continue to strengthen HIV prevention and HIV testing programs, improve the quality of health care for all HIV+ Americans and provide for educational tools for our HIV+ constituents.
2009 holds bright promise for NAPWA, our partnerships and the future of healthcare in the United States. We are optimistic that President-Elect Obama and his new administration fully understand the fundamental importance health care plays in our nation. As a leader in the national AIDS movement, NAPWA plays a pivotal role as the voice of the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS. True leadership is born of thoughtful and intentional action.
NAPWA's strategy is simple and pure:
- Develop cross-sector partnerships between our HIV+ constituents, the non-profit community, academia, corporate and philanthropic sectors, federal agencies and elected officials to collectively share their knowledge and resources on how best to provide for the present and emerging needs for all HIV+ Americans;
- Conduct surveys of our HIV+ members and constituents on a regional basis so we have empirical data about distinct challenges different communities face in receiving effective HIV prevention, education, care and services;
- Share that data with the National AIDS Strategy group and all cross-sector partners;
- Create effective, culturally competent, linguistically appropriate HIV medical education tools on a host of issues for the entire continuum of education and literacy levels;
- Build the knowledge base of our HIV+ constituents so they can make the best informed health care choices in partnership with their care providers, lead the highest possible quality of life, and become active agents for change in HIV public policy and programs.
Presently, we're half way to goal. NAPWA built robust and sustainable long-term partnerships and began surveying our HIV+ constituents through the AIDS In America program. Our next phase is to share this survey data with our partners and develop HIV education tools for our community. This requires intellectual and financial resources.
I ask you today to make a significant financial investment in our vision and become an integral partner in the national AIDS movement. Please generously contribute to NAPWA's programs. We vow to be good conservators of your investment and to keep you informed of our progress and successes along the way.
Thank you for consideration and your continued support of NAPWA. Our finest hour emerges. Collectively we can build a health society free from HIV stigma and ignorance.
Sincerely,
Frank Oldham, Jr.
President and CEO
The The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) is the oldest national AIDS organization, as well as the first network of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. We believe in making a difference in the lives of our constituents. We do this by:
• providing information and resources;
• telling our collective stories in HIV from the past, present,
and future;
• and being the trusted independent voice of people living
with HIV.
Whether living with HIV or interested in the issue, NAPWA provides information and resources about HIV, stigma, testing, and policy. We do this through referrals, health promotion campaigns, and capacity building and training. We believe in building partnerships and networks to make these efforts stronger.
In the face of stigma, NAPWA has been a public voice talking about HIV and AIDS for 25 years. We believe that silence and inaction are deadly. Whether newly infected or a long-time survivor, we all have something important to add to the legacy of HIV and AIDS. NAPWA was founded on the 1983 Denver Principles which transformed us from victims to victors, with the same medical, personal, and social rights as others. We continue engaging people living with HIV through regional meetings and initiatives like This Is My Story.
NAPWA is the trusted independent voice of people living with HIV. We do this by the support of our individual and organizational members. We recognize the importance of bringing your local issues to the federal level. We also host AIDSWatch, the largest annual gathering of people living with HIV in the nation’s capital. Together we can make a difference.
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