PAWS and Shanti: Hitting the Ground Running

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

In great news for San Francisco animal lovers, Shanti merged with PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) in November 2015!  PAWS will continue as a program of Shanti. Here’s the new mission statement of the combined organization:  Shanti Project exists to enhance the health, quality of life, and well-being of people with terminal, life-threatening, or disabling illnesses or conditions.  Through a continuum of services, including in-home and onsite patient and care navigation, emotional and practical support, and preserving the human-animal bond, Shanti strives to achieve the highest medical and quality of life outcomes for San Francisco’s most vulnerable. 

While there exists a number of noble animal-related causes and organizations in San Francisco, PAWS is unique in that it is the only program dedicated to ensuring that no pet guardians have to choose between caring for themselves or keeping their beloved animal companions (often times their sole source of support).  And this service is critical for maintaining clients’ emotional and physical well-being: interaction with companion animals has been proven to lower anxiety levels and decrease the onset, severity, or progression of stress-related conditions. Some studies even show that pet ownership can lengthen a person’s life by providing cardiovascular benefits and decreasing incidences of depression. The PAWS merger with Shanti is helping to ensure that PAWS can continue to provide these unique services to hundreds of clients for years to come, as well as strengthen the presence of both organizations within the community. 

Over the past six months, while both organizations have been working through various integration-related initiatives and a few inevitable challenges, the merger already has spurred some very encouraging developments.  The program was able to hire two additional Care Navigators to further meet its expanding client needs.  Further, the joint organization has begun to pilot ways to provide clients access to a more holistic range of services. For example, recently, a breast cancer patient with an aging dog was referred to PAWS’ Ask a Vet services, where she was able obtain vital information on her companion’s healthcare needs. As a result of this type of progress, members of the agency are very optimistic about PAWS’ ability to keep strengthening the support that it’s able to provide to San Franciscans in need. 

On May 25, the agency hosted the 21st annual Petchitecture at The Fairmont Hotel—a signature PAWS gala and the first of many successful events with PAWS and the Shanti Project working to strengthen our community together. The evening raised approximately $195,000 in support of PAWS’ mission to maintain the human-animal bond for those most vulnerable in our community. Four-hundred and fifty friends, and approximately one hundred of their beloved canine companions came out for a wonderful event celebrating the mission of PAWS and the PAWS program’s champions of the human-animal bond. If you missed the celebration, we hope to see you next year as PAWS celebrates 30 years of service.

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

Welcoming PAWS into the Shanti Family

  

Dear Shanti volunteers, donors, and friends:

Today, I’m excited to share the wonderful news of the Shanti Project’s merger with one of our long-time community partners, Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS). Founded in 1987, PAWS is a San Francisco-based human services organization that supports people living with disabling illnesses and disabilities in caring for their pets. I want to publicly thank and commend both Boards of Directors who have invested a tremendous amount of their energy to explore what would be best for both agencies and the community. The result is a combined organization which will be able to serve clients with stronger and more sustainable resources.

The newly-formed organization will retain the Shanti name and PAWS will become a program of the merged organization. PAWS services will continue from its current location in the Mission District and Shanti will assume ownership of the current PAWS building, while still maintaining our main office location at 730 Polk Street.

“We’re thrilled to bring PAWS into the Shanti family, which will provide continuity and a strong financial base from which both organizations will benefit,” said Frank Petkovich, board chair for Shanti. “PAWS’ work complements Shanti’s efforts to provide emotional and practical support to vulnerable individuals across San Francisco.”

Together with PAWS, we offer a combined history of nearly 70 years of service to the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the years, Shanti has expanded from its base of serving people with HIV to include service to women with breast and other types of cancer. Having grown rapidly in recent years, Shanti will operate with an annual budget of $4.1 million for fiscal year 2015-16 following the merger.

“People who rely on Shanti for human support often receive daily compassion from their pets,” said Scott Jacobs, board chair for PAWS. “All safety net service organizations need to give thought to long-term sustainability and how most effectively to provide services to the community. Shanti and PAWS have wonderful mission compatibility and we are thrilled with the merger.”

We invite you to join us on October 14th as we officially welcome PAWS into the Shanti community at our 41st Anniversary Benefit Dinner, Compassion is Universal, which will be held at San Francisco's Palace Hotel.

Please help us extend a warm sincere welcome to PAWS!

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Kaushik Roy
Shanti Project
Executive Director

 

 

Shanti Awarded a $50,000 Grant from the Avon Foundation

 

 

AVON 39 THE WALK TO END BREAST CANCER RAISES $4.6 MILLION

IN SAN FRANCISCO AT 13^TH ANNUAL EVENT 

More than 2,500 Women and Men conquered 39.3-miles to crush breast cancer

 

San Francisco, CA, July 12, 2015 – AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer, formerly known as the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, continued this weekend in San Francisco raising $4.6 million to accelerate breast cancer research, improve access to screening, diagnosis and treatment, and educate people about breast cancer.

AVON 39 San Francisco – the fifth of seven events across the country to unveil the new theme #Powerof39 – drew more than 2,500 participants from 43 states and Washington, D.C., including 293 breast cancer survivors and 330 men.

“We were thrilled to continue the AVON 39 series in San Francisco, where more than 2,500 39ers united with one common goal: to eliminate breast cancer,” said Jill Surdyka, AVON 39 National Ambassador. “The grants given today will help us do just that – and will help us to further our goal in providing services to those in need, educating the public, and crushing breast cancer once and for all. The dedication, enthusiasm and spirit of our participants is undeniable – and we’re extremely grateful for their ongoing support.”

San Francisco AVON 39er, Alex Loveman, shared her moving story and battle with breast cancer to fellow participants, volunteers, family and friends. “When my radiologist told me I had breast cancer, I was shocked and felt completely numb. That’s the feeling I carried with me as I tried to wrap my head around how I was going to raise my three-year-old daughter and two-month-old twins,” said Loveman. “I was very fortunate to be part of a last-minute clinical study that began working immediately. Between that and the support from my husband, family and friends, the numb feeling began to fade. That’s what this weekend means to me, support and community. This weekend we united as a community to raise money and support the fight against breast cancer.”

Jill Surdyka, AVON 39 National Ambassador, announced 11 new grants to local breast cancer organizations, ensuring the funds raised immediately benefit the local community. Additional grants will be awarded throughout the year, adding to the more than $41 million donated by the Avon Foundation for Women to organizations and institutions in Northern California since 2001.

Representatives from each Northern California organization received grants on stage at the AVON 39 closing ceremony. They thanked participants for their commitment to ending breast cancer and for their spectacular fundraising achievements. All Avon Safety Net and Breast Cancer Outreach Program grantees commit to providing their services to everyone – no matter their insurance status, demographic background or ability to pay.

 

·         San Francisco General Hospital, the home of the Avon Breast Cancer Center of Excellence, received a $500,000 grant to support the “Avon Comprehensive Breast Care Center” at SFGH, which includes a mobile mammography van, a high-risk genetic clinic, community outreach and breast cancer research programs. The Avon Center has performed over 95,000 mammograms and more than 12,000 breast procedures since it opened in 2004. 

·         University of California San Francisco received a $300,000 grant to develop novel therapies to reverse treatment resistance in hormone therapy resistant metastatic breast cancer and reactivate a patient’s immune system to help fight the cancer.

·         Project Open Hand the AVON 39 San Francisco's food sponsor received a $200,000 grant to serve more than 400 breast cancer clients this year, providing more than 63,000 meals through Project Open Hand’s Homebound Critically Ill Program.

·         Charlotte Maxwell Clinic received two grants totaling $175,000 to provide integrative medical services including acupuncture, Chinese herbs, massage therapy and homeopathy and safety net support services for low-income women with breast cancer, with a focus on patients with metastatic disease.

·         Paradigm Shift Therapeutics received a grant of $150,000 to support of research that will enable testing the role the protein CD47 plays in the development and spread of breast cancer. This protein may improve a patient’s response to chemotherapy, help reduce side effects and prevent breast cancer metastasis. 

·         Alameda Health System Foundation received a grant of $125,000 to assist high-risk patients in need of diagnostics and treatment services.

·         Women’s Cancer Resource Center received a grant of $125,000 to support 3,200 high-risk or diagnosed women with navigation, financial assistance, education and support services.

·         Zero Breast Cancer received a grant of $100,000 to continue its unique community-based, participatory approach to breast cancer research to identify its causes and ultimately prevent it.

·         Cancer Resource Center of Mendocino received a $75,000 to grant to provide patient navigation and support services to women with breast cancer who live in some of the most rural parts of Northern California with a special focus on Hispanic and Native American women.

·         Shanti Project received a $50,000 to grant provide one-on-one Care Navigation services to 175 underserved, low-income women with breast cancer in San Francisco. 

Event Details and Exciting New Elements

AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer San Francisco began on Saturday, July 11 at 6:30 a.m. with an inspirational opening ceremony at Fort Mason. During the opening ceremony, participants received woven ribbon wristbands, called connection bands, to showcase who they are walking for. Participants then walked 26.2 miles through the San Francisco area, supported by an all-volunteer crew and cheered on by supporters. They spent Saturday night at Basecamp 39, which was located at Corte Madera Town Park, and featured pink two-person tents, hot showers, meals, and entertainment. New elements to the campgrounds included a temporary tattoo parlor, assorted games, and nightly entertainment. A special tent, Lounge 39, also allowed participants to relax.

On Sunday, July 12 after completing the final 13.1 miles, participants joined family and friends to celebrate their achievement at a closing ceremony at Fort Mason where the new grants were awarded. A DJ was onsite as participants crossed the finish line and received finisher metals as a new keepsake of their accomplishment.

Get Involved with AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer
The 2015 season is open for registration. Upcoming events will take place in Santa Barbara (September 12-13); and New York (October 17-18).  For more information about AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer, visit www.avon39.org or join the #Powerof39 conversation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

About the Avon Foundation for Women
The Avon Foundation for Women is the world’s largest corporate-affiliated philanthropy focused on issues that matter most to women.  Since its inception in 1955, the Avon Foundation has promoted or aided charitable, scientific, educational, and humanitarian activities, with a special emphasis on activities that improve the lives of women and their families. Through 2014, Avon global philanthropy, led by the Avon Foundation, has donated nearly $1 billion in more than 50 countries for causes most important to women. Today, Avon philanthropy focuses on funding breast cancer research and access to care through the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, and efforts to reduce domestic and gender violence through its Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program. Visit www.avonfoundation.org for more information.

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Encourage women around you to do the same. Don’t forget, men can get breast cancer, too.
For breast cancer information and resources, visit avonfoundation.org.

AVON 39 Thanks National Sponsor Reebok, Official Sponsors Tiger Balm, PL$, The Company Store, Medical Sponsor Stanford Health Care, Supplier Sponsors San Francisco Marriott Marquis, Go Go Squeez and Opening Ceremony Coffee Sponsor Cognizant.

   

Shanti is a Community Sponsor for Sean Dorsey's "The Missing Generation"

THE MISSING GENERATION
By Sean Dorsey Dance

May 14-17, 2015 (Thurs-Fri 8pm / Sat 4pm & 8pm / Sun 4pm & 7pm)
Dance Mission Theater (3316 24^th Street @ Mission Street, San Francisco)
Tickets: $15-25 sliding scale http://www.themissinggeneration.brownpapertickets.com
Info: www.seandorseydance.com

THE MISSING GENERATION (world premiere) explores our buried grief and the contemporary impact of the loss of part of an entire generation of gay and transgender people to AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s. This powerful work features full-throttle dance, luscious partnering, intimate storytelling and theater – and is based on oral history interviews with longtime survivors of the early AIDS epidemic across the US.

Sean Dorsey Dance’s award-winning ensemble of dancers dance to a lush multi-layered soundscore that features the voices and remarkable real-life stories from these oral history interviews and original music. Don’t miss this one-weekend only Tenth Anniversary Season engagement with “San Francisco’s Best Dance Company” (SF Weekly). Advance tickets recommended. Show info at www.seandorseydance.com 

 

Cancer in America

"Although cancer takes many forms, there are four that claim the lives of over a quarter of a million Americans every year: breast, prostate, lung, and colon/rectum. It is estimated that around 827,000 new diagnoses for these cancer types will take place in 2014. " http://www.publichealth.org/public-awareness/cancer/

Shanti Receives $25K Grant from Pfizer and the Avon Foundation for Women

Shanti’s Margot Murphy Breast Cancer Program Receives $25K Grant from Pfizer and the Avon Foundation for Women to Support Patients Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer

Shanti’s Margot Murphy Breast Cancer Program is one of 23 organizations nationwide to receive funding

Grant Focuses on Enhancing Patient Support and Efforts to Increase Public Understanding of the Disease
 

[San Francisco, CA]  (January 27, 2015) – Shanti’s Margot Murphy Breast Cancer Program is proud to announce that it has been chosen as one of 23 grant recipients for the Avon-Pfizer Metastatic Breast Cancer Grants Program: Identify-Amplify-Unify. The program, run by Pfizer Inc. and the Avon Foundation for Women, granted a total of $1 million to 23 organizations nationwide to support and educate more than 5,000 metastatic breast cancer patients, their caregivers, and their communities.  The program was created in June 2014 to support advocacy, academic and other nonprofit organizations that provide information and services to help people with metastatic breast cancer navigate the medical and emotional challenges associated with their disease.

“To date, the majority of public attention on and funding for breast cancer has centered on early-stage disease – such as screening strategies and survivorship – not on late-stage diagnosis. As a result, the Avon-Pfizer Metastatic Grants Program was established to  address the gaps in support available to women and men living with metastatic disease, and to create  new services  for metastatic patients so they do not have to face this disease alone,” said Marc Hurlbert, executive director of the Avon Foundation for Women Breast Cancer Crusade.  “Our hope is that one day, all patients can access the unique care and support services they need, regardless of their ability to pay.”

Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of breast cancer and occurs when cancer spreads beyond the breast to other parts of the body, including the bones, lungs, liver and brain. Nearly three in 10 women who have had early breast cancer will eventually develop metastatic disease. There are no cures currently available, and continuous treatment is needed to control the spread of the disease and its symptoms.   

“Pfizer is proud to join the Avon Foundation in supporting these 23 important projects and the organizations driving them,” said Maya Martinez-Davis, regional president, North America, Pfizer Oncology.  “With the public breast cancer conversation focused primarily on early breast cancer, there is a need to foster greater understanding of metastatic disease and increased support for metastatic patients and their caregivers.  Our hope is that the projects being funded by the Avon-Pfizer Metastatic Breast Cancer Grants Program will make a meaningful difference to the metastatic breast cancer community.” 

Shanti's Margot Murphy Breast Cancer Program will use this grant to provide patient advocacy, home visits, translation services, emergency grocery funds, taxi vouchers, appointment accompaniment, and assistance with applying for emergency resources to San Franciscans diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Our professional Care Navigators follow clients from diagnosis through active treatment and beyond. Staff is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, Taishanese, Spanish, Russian and English. We work with clients in their home, hospital room, or our office. Our program helps improve the quality of life and foster a sense of community for clients through our multilingual Health & Wellness Program which offers free classes and workshops, such as yoga, reiki, qi gong, art therapy, nutrition, and many more!

“Everyone at Shanti whom I encountered has been patient, most gracious, and very caring. Without Shanti's coordination and assistance (taxi vouchers, etc.) I could never get to doctor's appointments. As a health care provider, I was used to seeing myself in the "helper-role" but the navigators offered true empathy, not mere sympathy, which helped me accept my new role of recipient patient.” – Dr. W

Shanti’s Margot Murphy Breast Cancer Program was one of 23 organizations to received grants ranging from $15,000 to $100,000, to:

• Address gaps in services for the metastatic breast cancer community, including medical, psychological, nutritional, complementary and integrative services, support, financial, and legal support

• Distribute resources and services available to vulnerable populations

• Share educational resources with the public focusing on metastatic disease, palliative care, treatment options, clinical trials, access to holistic medication, and complementary medicine

Other organizations that received grants include

• Breastcancer.org (Narberth, Pa.)
• Cancer Resource Center of the Desert (El Centro, Calif.)
• Central Suffolk Hospital (New York)
• Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic (Oakland, Calif.)
• City Of Hope (Duarte, Calif.)
• Denver Health & Hospital Foundation (Denver, Colo.)
• Gilda’s Club of Northern New Jersey Inc. (Hackensack, N.J.)
• God's Love We Deliver (New York)
• H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research (Tampa, Fla.)
• Harborpath, Inc. (Columbia, S.C.)
• Living Beyond Breast Cancer (Haverford, Pa.)
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York)
• METAvivor Research and Support Inc. (Annapolis, Md.)
• Methodist Healthcare Foundation (Memphis, Tenn.)
• Patient Advocate Foundation Inc. (Hampton, Va.)
• Quantum Leap Health Care Collaborative (San Francisco)
• Sanford Medical Center Fargo (Fargo, N.D.)
• SHARE Self-help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer Inc. (New York)
• The Breast Cancer Resource Centers Of Texas Inc. (Austin, Texas)
• Yale-New Haven Hospital (New Haven, Conn.)
• You Can Thrive Foundation (New York)
• Young Survival Coalition (New York)

About Pfizer Oncology
Pfizer Oncology is committed to the discovery, investigation and development of innovative treatment options to improve the outlook for cancer patients worldwide.  Our strong pipeline of biologics and small molecules, one of the most robust in the industry, is studied with precise focus on identifying and translating the best scientific breakthroughs into clinical application for patients across a wide range of cancers.  By working collaboratively with academic institutions, individual researchers, cooperative research groups, governments, and licensing partners, Pfizer Oncology strives to cure or control cancer with breakthrough medicines, to deliver the right drug for each patient at the right time.  For more information, please visit www.Pfizer.com.

About the Avon Foundation for Women
The Avon Foundation for Women is the world’s largest corporate-affiliated philanthropy focused on issues that matter most to women.  Since its inception in 1955, the Avon Foundation has promoted or aided charitable, scientific, educational, and humanitarian activities, with a special emphasis on activities that improve the lives of women and their families. Through 2013, Avon global philanthropy, led by the Avon Foundation, has donated more than $957 million in more than 50 countries for causes most important to women. Today, Avon philanthropy focuses on funding breast cancer research and access to care through the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, and efforts to reduce domestic and gender violence through its Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program. Visit www.avonfoundation.org for more information.

About the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade
The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, which launched in 1992 and is led by the U.S.-based Avon Foundation for Women, has placed Avon and the Avon Foundation for Women at the forefront of the fight against breast cancer; today, Avon is the leading corporate supporter of the cause globally. Avon breast cancer programs in more than 50 countries have donated more than $815 million for research and advancing access to care, regardless of a person’s ability to pay. Avon awards funding to beneficiaries ranging from leading cancer centers to community-based grassroots breast health programs to support breast cancer research and access to care. The Crusade has enabled more than 18 million women globally to receive free mammograms and breast cancer screenings, educated more than 145 million women about breast cancer, and funded promising research into the causes of breast cancer and ways to prevent the disease. The Avon Foundation raises funds for the Crusade through the sale of Avon “Pink Ribbon” products.

Shanti's HIV Health Counselor at the 2014 AIDS Clinical Trials Group Network Meeting in DC

Derrick Mapp, HIV Health Counselor at Shanti, attended the 2014 AIDS Clinical Trials Group Network Meeting for a week this June in DC. The meeting is a full scientific meeting for the entire network. It included training sessions for site personnel, major findings from ACTG studies, future directions for the network, and the various administrative, scientific, and resource committees meet to discuss the status of developing, ongoing, and completed protocols and/or other network activities.

Derrick was elected to the CSS (Community Scientific Committee), which is a subcommittee of the GCAB and represents community members from local advisory boards across the globe that provide input into research being done in their communities. The CSS provide community input directly into developing studies with the research team until the study closes. Derrick is currently participating in two studies under development – one looking at a novel treatment approach and one looking at a new medication for those who are co-infection with HCV/HIV. He also serve as the community representative for the Protocol Development subcommittee.

There are a number of interesting directions researchers are moving into – there is growing interest in the neurocognitive effects of HIV disease as well as the immune dysfunction that causes persistent/chronic inflammation and, somewhat controversially, the role of exercise on the inflammatory process in HIV. There are a number of co-infection studies with HIV including TB, malaria, HCV and HBV. These are often studies more involved with the international sites.

Even more controversially there is renewed interest in short term treatment interruption in order to introduce new treatments that potentially control the virus better with fewer side effects. According to Derrick, there is amazing community work being done regarding Women and inclusion and Under served populations in HIV research. This has been one of the major successes for community members of the ACTG because of its acceptance by the leadership of its findings.

Derrick also took the opportunity to network with other advocates across the country, and the world.  They held a meeting with our sister site from Zimbabwe as they continue to develop their CAB into more active advocacy for community involvement in research in their country. They spoke about the struggles in terms of basic resources that the average person deals with and the added struggles with being HIV positive.

Derrick says, "each day is a full and satisfying day of meetings, workshops, networking and reports and evaluations."