Shanti's Margot Murphy Women's Cancer Program Launches New Partnerships to Promote Wellness

Last year, the Margot Murphy Women's Cancer Program had a packed calendar of wellness activities.

Gatherings included writing letters to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, learning make-up tricks with Sephora's "Classes for Confidence," and music therapy (shown left).

We are looking forward to even more fun this year!

(Above): Clients fill the community space of Sephora during the "Classes for Confidence" series offered in September.

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Compassion in Action: Connecting the Dots to Care

When behavioral and mobility issues impede a person’s access to care, St. Francis Lutheran Church, San Francisco and the Shanti Project pave the path to the delivery of services.

Photo above: Shanti HIV Services staff and clients.

Located in the Castro neighborhood, St. Francis Lutheran Church, San Francisco, like Shanti, was a first responder in the earliest days of the AIDS epidemic. Today, both organizations are well aware that the crisis is not over for the most underserved individuals living with HIV. Recognizing this, the Shanti Project and St. Francis Lutheran Church started working together in 2014 to identify clients living with HIV who were missing grocery deliveries and medical appointments due to behavioral or mobility concerns.

Individuals served through this funding partnership often find seemingly simple tasks—such as being in crowded spaces at the local food bank or traveling to the doctor—extremely challenging. Thanks to the added staff time supported by this grant, Shanti Client Advocates are able to provide emotional support and intensive case management. Day-to-day, this means at-home enrollment, securing groceries from local food banks, and tracking medical appointments. Through these methods, staff work to make sure no client faces the challenges associated with multiple diagnoses alone.

One client, Kent*, has been accessing Shanti services for almost a decade. Kent faces many obstacles, including being a long-term HIV survivor and dealing with mental health challenges. Because of his mental health diagnosis, Kent struggles when in groups and crowded spaces, making it difficult for him to access services that are crucial to his well-being, such as the weekly grocery pickup at the local food bank.

Thanks to the trusting relationship our Client Advocate has built with Kent, the Client Advocate meets with Kent and confirms he has received groceries every week, either at the Shanti office or at home when needed. When Kent is in the Shanti office, he also accesses the Shanti Drop-in Service Center, where he can get a warm cup of coffee and talk with fellow long-term HIV survivors in a safe space.

For the past four years, St. Francis Lutheran Church, San Francisco has provided Shanti with the resources to fund more than 135 hours of staff time dedicated to clients like Kent. This partnership continues to ensure services once deemed out of reach are now easily accessible for all our clients.

*Name has been changed.

Donor Spotlight: Steve Chisholm

Donor Spotlight: Steve Chisholm

How an office cat without an owner turned into a monthly donor with a home.

Above: Steve Chisholm and Alexander, in their tuxedo best.

Steve Chisholm has an infectious laugh and a welcoming voice all his own. His monthly support of PAWS, he admits, is not from him. Every single donation for the past eight years he says comes straight from Alexander—one of his black and white tuxedo cats.

In fact, Alexander is one of Steve’s three tuxedo cats, and he joined feline friends Frank and Bob eight years ago. What makes Alexander’s addition to the household so special? Call it the perfect mix of kitty litter and kismet.

While familiar with food banks for humans, until 2010 Steve had never heard of PAWS, a program dedicated to care for the pets with services like free pet food, free or subsidized veterinary care and more, so that the owners facing challenging circumstances can care for themselves. “It was such an obvious idea—it was right under my nose. But when I heard about PAWS and realized how important that care is, well, it hit me like a ton of bricks,” says Steve.

“I think about the joy, love, comfort and peace of mind that a pet provides. Wouldn’t it be nice to give that to someone else? Giving clients the ability to just enjoy the pet—what a gift.”

Steve’s aha moment came during a work-sponsored volunteer event at PAWS eight years ago. Having worked in administration for 30 years, Steve’s volunteer role as “head of kitty litter packaging” for the day was certainly a change of pace. “It felt like playing in a sandbox—we kept reminding ourselves, at least it is clean!” Steve recalls.

As the day was ending and Steve was preparing to go home to Frank and Bob, the PAWS volunteer coordinator introduced the volunteers to Alexander. At the time, Alexander was the PAWS office cat, having come to reside there following his owner’s death because no long-term care arrangements had been made. Since his owner had been a former PAWS client, Alexander was quite comfortable at PAWS and even had a Facebook fan page.

“As soon as I saw Alexander, it struck me—his black and white markings were just like Frank and Bob. By the time we sat down together and he started purring in my lap, well, it was all over,” admits Steve. That very day he went home, discussed the matter with Frank and Bob, and two days later called the PAWS office. Alexander found his new forever home—and PAWS got a new monthly donor!

When Steve reflects on why he (and Alexander) support PAWS every month, he thinks about that first meeting. “I think about the joy, love, comfort and peace of mind that a pet provides. Wouldn’t it be nice to give that to someone else? Giving clients the ability to just enjoy the pet—what a gift.”

PAWS Stocking Delivery: 2017

120 Volunteers Bring Magic to More Than 500 Companion Animals this Holiday Season

Now in the 15th year, the annual PAWS Stocking Delivery celebrated its largest year yet! Volunteers brought holiday cheer in the form of treats & toys to nearly 400 clients and more than 500 beloved animal companions. From hand-decorating bags to handing out energy-efficient light bulbs, we are so grateful to everyone who joined in the fun!

View the full Facebook album here!

Shanti's Programs are Highlighted in "The Western Addition "

At Shanti, Volunteers 'Heal' By Simply Being There
Thu, 30 Dec 2010

By David Goodman

In the early 1980s, when the spread of HIV/AIDS was primarily among gay men and was quickly becoming an epidemic, Dr. Charles Garfield – faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco – wanted to respond to the disease in an unorthodox way: Train volunteers to provide emotional support to suffering individuals.

However, when Garfield began to research volunteer-based organizations in the hope of finding inspiration, he found that nobody had yet written on the subject. So he did what anyone deeply dedicated to a cause might do: He wrote the book himself, and in the process founded Shanti – the first known organization to focus upon serving the emotional needs of HIV/AIDS patients.

Shanti – meaning “inner peace” or “tranquility” in Sanskrit – quickly became ground central for the HIV community and today, more than 1,000 people take advantage of Shanti’s services – which include a drop-in service and a peer support volunteer program – the Learning Immune Function Enhancement Program – L.I.F.E.– which focuses on health and wellness.

To read the entire article, please visit The Western Edition

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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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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7 Favorite Charities: The Shanti Project Works With AIDS and Breast Cancer Patientsby Laura Mason

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.
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.

Click here to read more.

Shanti Celebrates 35 Years of Serviceby Dennis McMillan

Activist philanthropist James Hormel, Shanti ED Kaushik Roy,
honoree Kevin Burns and
founder Charles Garfield. Photo by Rink.

This year marks Shanti’s 35th year of providing compassionate services to individuals with life-threatening illnesses, and on Nov. 10, friends gathered together for an anniversary commemoration. This was not just a way to honor the legacy, but also to raise awareness within the community of the immense challenges Shanti clients face today. Founded in 1974, Shanti was one of the first-ever volunteer organizations to work with people with terminal diseases, and was later one of the first community-based agencies in the United States to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.


The masters of ceremony were San Francisco movers and shakers, Janet Reilly and Christopher Caen, who gave accolades to the over 15,000 volunteers who gave over 3 million hours of their time over the three and a half decades of Shanti’s service. They stressed the importance of volunteers providing highly personal, compassionate care to clients above all else.

Click here to read more.

Shanti marks 35-year milestone

Photo: Steven Underhill

The nonprofit organization Shanti, which was founded in 1974 to provide practical and emotional support for people living with life-threatening or chronic illnesses, marked its 35th anniversary on November 10 with a gala benefit at the Hotel Kabuki in Japantown. Executive Director Kaushik Roy said that several supporters were honored for their work, including, from left, Christine Morrison; Kevin Burns, a former leader of the organization; Colleen Wilson, from Genentech; and Chip Shupanich.

Shanti marks 35 years of caringby Matthew S. Bajko

Shanti Executive Director Kaushik Roy.
Photo: Rick Gerharter

When Dr. Charles Garfield founded Shanti in 1974 he could hardly imagine that his fledgling agency would become a lifeline of hope for thousands of gay men just a decade later.

A Sanskrit word meaning "inner peace" or "tranquility," Shanti's main mission is to train volunteers on how to provide emotional and practical support to persons living with life-threatening or chronic illnesses. Over the last three and a half decades it has trained 15,000 volunteers and provided 3 million hours of service to clients.

Click here to read more.

Shanti director stepping downby Seth Hemmelgarn

Shanti Executive Director Kevin Burns
has announced his resignation.

Saying he loves his job but "it's time to move on," the executive director of Shanti, a San Francisco agency that offers services to people with life-threatening illnesses such as HIV/AIDS and breast cancer, last week announced his resignation.

Kevin Burns, who started volunteering with the agency 20 years ago after seeing people in his "chosen family" die from AIDS, announced his intentions to the board of directors earlier this month. He had been executive director more than three years.

Shanti Celebrates 33 Years Serving Critically Ill Peopleby Dennis McMillan

Honoree Josephine Caffese Loft danced
up a storn with performer Anita Cocktail
at Shanti's Spring Gala.
Photo by Rink.

Shanti, the 33-year-old nonprofit based in San Francisco, held its fundraiser, “Embracing Wellness Gala,” in Fort Mason’s Golden Gate Room on May 31. It featured mistresses of ceremonies Connie Champagne and Anita Cocktail accompanied by the Twilight Vixen Revue, all serving up an evening of comedy and fiery wit. There was also jazz piano music by former Apprentice contestant turned composer and musician, Tim Urban.

Shanti’s programs target San Francisco’s most at-risk women and men – the underserved. With a dedicated, highly professional staff of 35 and over 175 active volunteers supporting over 1,600 men and women each year, Shanti cannot provide its services without generous support from its donors. Eighty-five cents of every donor dollar goes directly to support these programs.

Click here to read more.

LIFE program gets results, studies sayby Roger Brigham

Jeffrey Leiphart, Ph.D., center, with staff
and interns from Shanti's LIFE
Institute. Photo: Rick Gerharter

Two recent extensive national and state studies have affirmed what Learning Immune Function Enhancement program administrators felt anecdotally: the program works.


"The studies showed positive outcomes in all areas, especially in medication adherence, psychological functioning, and reduced substance abuse," said Jeffrey Leiphart, Ph.D., director of Shanti's LIFE Institute. "We were really surprised at that. It never occurred to us we would get such a big outcome on that."
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Arbitrator clears Shanti's name AIDS charity wins $711,000 from former auditorsby Kathleen Sullivan

Shanti Project, an AIDS services provider that got into trouble with The City in 1993 over its billing practices, is hailing an arbitrator's decision as a complete vindication of the organization.
Arbitrator Jeffery Martin has ordered Antonini Professional Corp. of San Francisco, Shanti's former auditors, to pay the nonprofit group $711,850 in damages, including $449,748 to repay a debt incurred to The City in the 1991-92 fiscal year.

Paul Vander Waerdt, director of development and marketing for the 15-year-old Shanti, applauded the award Monday.

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A class reunion in a city of angelsby Rob Morse

THE SHANTI Project is looking for a few good volunteers. Shanti is always looking for people to provide companionship and support for those with AIDS.

Now Shanti is looking for everyone who ever worked as a volunteer, as part of a reunion and fund-raiser on Saturday, May 30.

That's about 4,000 people who worked with HIV patients during the plague years from 1981 to the present. If you're one of those volunteers, or you just want to have fun with interesting people, see the bottom of this column.

Jean-Louis Huot, a purchasing agent at University Arts in Palo Alto and Shanti volunteer for 12 years, describes Shanti as "a congregation of saints."

Click here to read more.

Shanti Wins Big Judgment Accounting firm to pay AIDS agency $712,000by Henry K. Lee

Shanti Project, one of San Francisco's oldest AIDS housing services, has won a $712,000 judgment against its former auditors, allowing the agency to repay a nearly half-million dollar debt to the city, officials said yesterday.

The arbitration award represents a "complete vindication" for Shanti, whose financial controls came into question after an audit showed that the agency billed the city $450,000 for unauthorized expenses, said spokesman Paul Vander Waerdt.

"This clears Shanti's name and shows that the responsibility for the debt to the city was that of the accounting firm, which had conducted itself negligently," he said.

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S.F. AIDS groups to join forces Shanti to absorb embattled Tenderloin agencyby Lisa M. Krieger, Examiner Medical Writer

The Tenderloin-based organization AIDS Indigent Direct Services, a counseling and support program that was beset by management and financial problems, will be absorbed by the Shanti Project.

The decision this week by a city planning council represents a move toward consolidation of taxpayer-supported AIDS groups in San Francisco as federal funding becomes less certain.

After an Examiner investigation, city officials found in 1993 that A.I.D.S. had used thousands of dollars in clients' funds to cover payroll expenses. The City put the organization on probation until it could correct problems.

Click here to read more.