Posts Tagged ‘AIDS’
Testing All Queens 2017
Tuesday, November 28th, 2017Ending the Epidemic World AIDS Day Summit
Thursday, October 5th, 2017Safer Sex Workshop for Gay/Bi Men
Wednesday, September 27th, 2017Hudson Valley Dance Festival
Tuesday, August 8th, 2017Renowned dance companies and emerging artists return to the heart of the Hudson Valley when Hudson Valley Dance Festival presents its fifth annual edition with performances at 2 pm and 5 pm October 7. The festival will again transform the 115-year-old wooden warehouse at Historic Catskill Point into a modern-day dance venue.
In its first four years, Hudson Valley Dance Festival has raised an impressive $460,397. The money raised helps Dancers Responding to AIDS and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS provide grants to AIDS and family service organizations nationwide, including nine based in the Hudson Valley, including HVCS. (In fact, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS just gave us at $10,000 grant to support our Client Assistance Program!)
Tickets start at $40 and are on sale now. Sponsorship opportunities also are available. The VIP reception will take place at W&G SPACE in Catskill, a beautifully renovated art studio on Catskill Creek. New this year is a special VIP daytrip package from New York City that includes roundtrip luxury bus transportation, a tour of the just-restored Thomas Cole National Historic Site with champagne luncheon, a ticket to the 2 pm performance and a cocktail reception after the show. In the 1800s, Cole was the founder of the famed Hudson River School of painting, the nation’s first art movement, and the inspiration for this year’s Hudson Valley Dance Festival artwork.
“I Work It Out For My Health & HIV” Workshop
Tuesday, June 13th, 2017Merck & Co. presents an educational workshop for HIV+ people on why it’s important to take your medications and how they might interact. Learn ways to improve your ability to take charge of your medications, and connect members of your health care team to understand all your medications.
Lunch will be provided.
This is a non-branded Community Health Action Talk presented by Merck at no charge for participants. Sign up today at 866-498-9933 or RSVP to Yessie at (914) 785-8303.
Building A Healthier Hudson Valley: Louis’ Story
Monday, May 15th, 2017HVCS isn’t afraid to have tough conversations. We shine a light on problems that thrive in the darkness. That’s only one of the tools we can use to bring new HIV infections to zero because of the support we have received from you. You have also inspired us to be the strongest of advocates in preventing HIV/AIDS. That is why we would like to share with you Louis’ story – one that your support has made possible.
Louis is twenty-four, has one more year of grad school, identifies as gay and is, by all outward appearances, happy and successful. Yet sometimes he doesn’t feel like he’s got it all together—he copes with low self-esteem and anxiety. He has a supportive family but feels like he’s not attractive or smart enough and worries about the future. Sometimes in social situations he relies on “liquid courage”—he has a few drinks. He wants a long-term commitment (and, one day, a husband) but knows that as a young gay man he’s at higher risk for HIV infection. The things he did to feel better about himself, like going out and drinking, only made things worse. “It felt like the odds were stacked against me,” he said. “I felt pretty hopeless and scared.”
Until he came in for a free HIV test offered our INFORM program, which specializes in HIV prevention for men who have sex with men. The INFORM specialist told him that he could diminish his fear of contracting HIV by going on PrEP. The specialist connected him to a medical provider and worked out insurance coverage. He also referred Louis to a counselor to address his self esteem, supplied him with condoms, and discussed strategies for having a good time at parties without risking his health. “Now I always go with friends, and we make a pact to watch out for each other.” Louis feels more in control and less anxious about the future now that he’s equipped with more tools to stay healthy. By helping us to activate an entire network of supports—from his doctor to his friends to his therapist—you’re helping Louis stay as healthy as possible while staying true to his dreams and goals.
We know you share our belief that a thriving Hudson Valley is made up of residents who are living their full potential: healthy, active and enjoying all the wonderful things that make this a great place to live. But even with nearly forty years of studying how and why HIV is transmitted, Hudson Valley residents are still being infected with HIV. So we still need your help. Those who were at the highest risk decades ago are still at high risk because most people have a tough time talking about sexuality, desire, substance abuse, and race. This silence, combined with entrenched stigma against those with AIDS, allows HIV to spread through our communities—communities we need to stay healthy and strong if we’re to be a vibrant, colorful Hudson Valley.
So we invite you to join us once again in keeping HIV prevention in the conversation. Your contribution means we can keep our HIV prevention programs strong. So please continue to help us build healthy communities right here in the Hudson Valley. Preventing the spread of HIV now means that more people can live their full potential.
Please give today.
A Special Announcement: No Hudson Valley AIDS Walk 2017
Monday, April 24th, 2017If you’re a longtime supporter, you may be wondering why you haven’t yet seen anything about the Hudson Valley AIDS Walk, usually held in May. The Hudson Valley Community Services will not be holding its customary Hudson Valley AIDS Walk this year.
After twenty-four years of holding the AIDS Walk, we felt that it was time for a big change. We’ve been tweaking the AIDS Walk each year to respond to your feedback and bring in new supporters and community partners. The time has come for more than tweaks—we need a complete reset. This decision was made in conjunction with our Board of Directors, our volunteer AIDS Walk committee, key staff members and feedback from past supporters. We are excited to announce that our staff and volunteers are working together to create new events that inspire and motivate our donors, participants and volunteers, and will bring in even more resources to help our clients.
Our new focus includes making the commitment to better serving our clients by identifying key fundraising targets. We look forward to sharing more success stories so you get to know our clients—and you see how your contributions are helping them. We’re committing to a more personal approach to community partnerships. And we promise that fighting HIV/AIDS and helping Hudson Valley residents living with AIDS are still top priorities.
With all these changes we don’t want to lose sight of an underlying principle: our clients still need you! We hope that as we embark on a new direction in our fundraising efforts that you’ll be more energized and passionate about the work HVCS does in the Hudson Valley. Our fundraising staff is hard at work on new ways for you to remain involved. We’re always open to your ideas and feedback, too. Let us know what interests you and how we can meet your goals for helping your community. Thank you for your past support, and we look forward to working with all our supporters as we move forward together.
What’s Next?
We’re forming a committee to help plan a new grassroots event—The Most Important Meal, a breakfast to raise funds for our food and nutrition
programs. We need volunteers to help sell tickets, line up sponsors, sell journal ads, and collect silent auction items. The Most Important
Meal will be coming to a Mid-Hudson location in Fall 2017. If you’re interested in volunteering on the committee, contact Anthony Accomando at (914)
785-8277 or aaccomando@hudsonvalleycs.org.
Host an Event for HVCS
Create your own mini-fundraiser by hosting a third-party event. It doesn’t have to be big or fancy, or raise a large amount to make a difference. All it takes is the desire to pitch in and an idea for a gathering. Organizing your friends, family and community and asking them to contribute small amounts can really add up! Help HVCS by organizing:
- Potluck dinners
- Walks, hikes or bike rides
- Bake sales
- Loose change collections
- Charity days at your business: collect donations from employees or donate a percentage of all sales
- Food drives
- Paint-and-sip parties
- Guest bartender nights
- The possibilities are endless!
If you’re interested or you’ve got an idea, contact J. Dewey at (914) 785-8326 or jdewey@hudsonvalleycs.org.
World AIDS Day
Wednesday, January 4th, 2017World AIDS Day
December 1
The World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988.
In 2016, the US Government is using the theme “Leadership. Commitment. Impact.”
Follow the AIDS.gov blog for news about World AIDS Day.
World AIDS Day
Wednesday, January 4th, 2017World AIDS Day
December 1
The World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988.
In 2016, the US Government is using the theme “Leadership. Commitment. Impact.”
Follow the AIDS.gov blog for news about World AIDS Day.
World AIDS Day
Wednesday, January 4th, 2017World AIDS Day
December 1
The World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988.
In 2016, the US Government is using the theme “Leadership. Commitment. Impact.”
Follow the AIDS.gov blog for news about World AIDS Day.