Executive Director, Kaushik Roy Speaking at the 36th Annual Benefit — Introduction by Jan Yanehiro

The Shanti Project Works With AIDS and Breast Cancer Patientsby Laura Mason, Assistant Editor at 7 X 7

Reprinted with permission from Laura Mason original article

Shanti Project extends a hand to the most vulnerable people in our society. Started by Dr. Charlie Garfield in 1974, Shanti was the first organization in the country to work directly with AIDS patients, and has become an international model for similar work in 600 organizations. They facilitated the first-ever international training on how to work with people with AIDS at the request of the French, British and Belgian governments in 1982. We talked with Executive Director Kaushik Roy about the trailblazing ways Shanti's staff and 250 volunteers help those in need every day.

A Shanti volunteer with her matched Shanti client.

How did you get involved?

When I was in college at Cal in the late 90s, I heard a public service announcement on late night radio about this place called the Shanti Project. It was talking about volunteering and working one on one with a person who had AIDS and giving them emotional and practical support because there may not have been anyone else in their life who could do that for them. I was just so struck by that message. The first thing I did was call up Shanti to volunteer. I showed up and was just totally blown away by the experience. I saw that Shanti had some of the most dedicated, passionate people. They were doing such incredible work, and doing work for people who not only had medical challenges, but they really were all alone.

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Shanti's 36th Annual Benefit — Funding Leadership Award Presented by the Honorable James C. Hormel

Funding Leadership Award Presented by the Honorable James C. Hormel

Accepted by Dr. Sandra Hernandez

Advocate Randy Allgaier dies at 53by Liz Highleyman

Randy Allgaier. Photo: Courtesy of Lee Hawn.

HIV and healthcare advocate Randy Allgaier passed away early Saturday morning, November 27, at Davies Medical Center in the Castro. A long-term HIV and hepatitis C survivor who also recently battled anal cancer, Mr. Allgaier died from complications of intestinal obstruction and organ failure. He was 53.

Over the past two decades Mr. Allgaier played a key role in shaping public policy related to HIV/AIDS and, more recently, viral hepatitis, serving on nearly a dozen committees, councils, and boards.

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Positive Force & Shanti's Annual Holiday Extravaganza

Please join Positive Force and Shanti for our annual Holiday party. An afternoon of fun, food, and friends. Spectacular entertainment by Alotta Boutte', Peggy L'eggs, and Cheer SF. as well as special guest DJ, OJ. Sunday, December 19th 2010 3pm - 6pm

The Women's Building, 3543 18th Street between Guerrero and Valencia Streets

To RSVP or for more info, contact Derrick Mapp Email, 415-674-4703, John Olesen Email, 415-674-4713 or Tony Koester Email, 415-575-0150 x 225.

CAEAR Coalition Mourns the Death of Randy Allgaier: A True Champion for People Living with HIV/AIDS

Reprinted with permission from The CAEAR Coalition original article
(Washington, DC)––The CAEAR Coalition community celebrates the life and mourns the passing of our colleague and leader Randy Allgaier who died on November 27 in San Francisco. A longtime advocate for people living with HIV and LGBT equality, he was a member of CAEAR Coalition for the past seven years and served on our Board of Directors as the Chair of the People Living with HIV/AIDS Caucus since 2008. At the time of his death, he was Director of the San Francisco HIV Health Services Planning Council, of which he had previously served as Co-chair.

We are thankful for his commitment to people living with AIDS by working to ensure access to quality medical care and treatment for all. We honor his passion, his sense of justice, his humor, and his work ethic.

Earlier in his career, he was the state advocate for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, where he took a leading role in building a statewide coalition that successfully advocated for significant increases for California’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program. He was also very active in the areas of HIV and Medicare/Medicaid and served on the Board of Directors of National Positive Working Coalition. As an animal lover, one of his proudest achievements was his service as President of the Board of Pets are Wonderful Support (PAWS) in San Francisco. He was also a founder of the state-wide LGBT advocacy organization Equality California and served on the Board of Directors of the Human Rights Campaign. To all of these endeavors he brought his signature passion, creativity, and diligence to the work at hand.

Randy will be fondly remembered and deeply missed. We send our love and prayers to his husband Lee Hawn and the rest of his family.