Examples of last year's beneficiary agencies we funded

Over the last 17 years AIDS Walk has distributed over 1.9 million dollars to over 30 agencies that provide direct HIV/AIDS education, services and prevention programs to our local citizens.  Last year we sent our funding proposal requests to 56 agencies. Here are the programs we funded in 2005:

Wells House Hospice Foundation

Among the many services provided by Wells House Hospice is its end-of-life care program for under served, uninsured, homeless, terminally ill patients living with HIV/AIDS. The goals of this project are to reduce the service gaps with this under served population and provide compassionate care and services. The major outcome will be maintaining these clients as free of pain and as comfortable as possible so that they can approach the time that remains for them with dignity.

The Beacon House Association of San Pedro

Beacon House is a certified and licensed residential treatment program for those recovering from alcohol and drug abuse. Their Sobriety Safety Net program provides a sale, clean. and drug-free environment for HIV positive clients to reside while awaiting a bed-space opening in the highly successful Beacon House substance abuse treatment program. Clients enrolled in the Sobriety Safety Net also participate in groups, classes. 12 step meetings, social and recreational programs, individual counseling, case management and community service work.

Project Wholeness Wellness B.R.U.C.E.

The Say Sistah' program is an endeavor of Project Wholeness Wellness B.R.U.C.E. with the goal of extending HIV/AIDS education to the much-underserved population of women of color in the greater Long Beach area. The Say Sistah...’Stop in the Name of Love’ program will provide a series of six group sessions over a period of six weeks to reduce the risk of HIV infection/re-infection among women of color through self-affirmation, personal healing and education. Their innovative curriculum is based upon the integration of spiritual healing, clinical assessment and traditional HIV/AIDS prevention techniques. They hope to develop a comfortable, warm and safe environment that supports personal growth and prevention skills.

Strength for the Journey Long Beach/Orange County

Strength for the Journey is an innovative approach to addressing the spiritual needs of those living with HIV/AIDS. Strength for the Journey is a one-week ecumenical camp hosted by the United Methodist Church open to men and women who are HIV positive. The camp realizes that many HIV positive individuals feel rejected by certain parts of the faith community and offers a safe, supportive, and caring environment to recharge mentally and spiritually. The camp offers eight to ten workshops each day as well as small group activities, social events, and a nightly closing campfire.

South Bay Family Healthcare Center

The South Bay Family Healthcare Center (SBFHC) has provided 33 years of quality, free and low-cost medical services in an empowering and non-judgmental manner. SBFHC is a "one-stop shop" of vital medical services and last year provided 40,000 medical visits to over 18,000 community members. Specific to the HIV/AIDS community. SBFHC provides education and prevention services, outreach to high-risk populations, anonymous testing and counseling, referrals, emergency financial assistance, case management, mental health services, youth outreach, and a Buddy Program designed to match trained community volunteers with a HIV positive client in need of practical and emotional support.

CARE Program and Clinics

Since 1986, CARE has provided medical, dental, residential and social services to over 1,400 men, women and families. Through a single intake visit. CARE can link clients to all available services in order to meet the complex needs of the HIV/AIDS client. In addition to the services mentioned above, the approximately 700 clients of CARE can receive case management. dedicated family services, mental health services, psychiatric and psychological care as well as nutritional counseling. Funding from this year's AIDS Walk Long Beach will fund the People Who CARE quarterly newsletter published by the Client Advisory Panel of the CARE Program and provided to the community in both English and Spanish.

The Serra Project

Serra Project has provided services to clients in the greater Long Beach and South Bay areas for over 15 years. Founded with the sponsorship of seven major Los Angeles County hospitals, Serra Project responds to the incidence of homelessness and poverty among persons with HIV/AIDS in Southern California. Serra Project provides much more than a bed to sleep in; clients in their Casa Long Beach facility, receive specialized nutritional support, private bedrooms, 24-hour care on-site by a certified nursing assistant, twice-weekly house calls/case management by a registered nurse and social worker, and comprehensive medical case management and social benefits through contract with the CARE Program.

The Gay & Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach

The Center's Positive Directions program began in 2003 and is a client-centered HIV prevention program with the fundamental goal of promoting the adoption and maintenance of HIV risk-reduction behaviors with individuals already identified as HIV positive. Positive Directions provides intensive, on-going, individualized prevention counseling, support, and service brokerage to help prevent transmission and re-infection of HIV The program addresses the relationships between HIV risk and other issues such as substance abuse, STD treatment, mental health, and social and cultural factors.

The AIDS Food Store of Long Beach

The AIDS Food Store of Long Beach is the oldest AIDS care provider in the Los Angeles area and has grown from helping seven clients to distributing over 290,000 bags of food and related items valued at over $2.7 million. The AIDS Food Store committed itself that until a cure is found and their work is no longer needed they will be here to provide nutritional foods and related items to those who need them. The AIDS Food Store is open on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month and offers clients not only much needed nutritional support but a kind. warm and understanding place to congregate, socialize, and receive a healthy dose of TEC. The AIDS Food Store operates completely on volunteer staff, receives no direct government funding, and turns every dollar possible into food for its clients.

Being Alive South Bay

Being Alive South Bay plays a vital role in providing services to the South Bay area. Its Positively Speaking program offers education and prevention programs to youth regardless of gender, age, race, religion or sexual orientation. Volunteer speakers for the program are trained by certified HIV counselors and give their education and prevention presentations in the public and private school systems, churches, and at employment sites. The program was developed in response to the documented rise in new youth HIV infection rates.

Substance Abuse Foundation (SAF)

SAP was founded in 1988 and over the past 17 years has grown from a 6-bed residential program to a 250-bed residential treatment rehabilitation and housing provider that also serves more than 150 outpatients daily. Their quarterly newsletter, The Gazebo Gazette, will be expanded to include greater coverage of HIV/AIDS programs and services, educational articles on HIV prevention, medication regiments and research news. Distribution is planned to reach 3,000 individuals and will be available at service providers throughout the area.