National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day March Candlelight Vigil Monday, February 7th

• Starting Time and Location:
  The Steps of City Hall at Polk Street, 5:00 pm
• Program Location:
  African-American Arts and Cultural Center, 762 Fulton Street, 6:00 pm
• Special Keynote Speaker:
  Bishop Yvette Flunder, City of Refuge, United Church of Christ

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

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.

Read more »

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.

Click here to read more.

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.