AIDS Project Los Angeles
Encyclopedia
AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
, "dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by AIDS
disease, reducing the incidence of HIV
infection, and advocating for fair and effective HIV-related public policy."
APLA is one of the largest non-profit AIDS service organizations in the United States
. Its activities include providing bilingual direct services, prevention education and leadership on HIV/AIDS-related policy and legislation.
The agency was founded in 1982 by Max Drew, Nancy Cole Sawaya, Matt Redman and Erv Munro with the financial support of their community of friends and family. On July 28, 1985, APLA held the world's first AIDS Walk
, which brought in $673,000. The Walk is now the largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser in Southern California
.
Among the services provided by the agency are oral health, housing
, case management, nutritional health, treatment adherence
, and home health
. APLA operates four Necessities of Life Program (NOLP) food pantry locations around Los Angeles
and collaborates with five other organizations to provide food pantry services across the United States, effectively running the nation's largest network of food pantries for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
APLA Dental Services' main and mobile clinics provide care in underserved areas across Los Angeles County.
Many early fundraising events were held in gay bars and discos, as the gay and lesbian community mobilized to fight the disease. A fundraiser at Studio One in March 1984 featuring Joan Rivers
raised $45,000 for APLA and other new AIDS service organizations.
Then, on July 28, 1985, APLA held the world's first AIDS Walk
. AIDS Walk Los Angeles is now the largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser in Southern California.
Days before the first AIDS Walk, it was disclosed to the world that movie star Rock Hudson
had AIDS. In response, Elizabeth Taylor
helped to spearhead a drive by the entertainment community to confront the disease. This helped ensure the success of the first Commitment to Life event. The event, held at the Bonaventure Hotel
honored former First Lady Betty Ford
, raised $1.3 million. The Commitment to Life benefits, much like the AIDS Walks, became a major annual event.
Other APLA services include: Home Health, Clientline, Mental Health, Nutrition Education,Treatment Adherence and Residential Services.
In addition to domestic advocacy, APLA also supports the work of the Global Forum on MSM and HIV by acting as the organization’s fiscal and administrative agent. Guided by its own steering committee of 20 members from 17 countries in the Global South and North, the MSMGF is committed to responding to HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with men worldwide through advocacy, information exchange, knowledge production, network development and programs that promote human rights and support the empowerment of MSM around the world.
The event was aimed to raise awareness of the disproportionate impact of HIV & AIDS among MSM globally; of the complex factors that fuel transmission; and progress towards universal access to HIV-related services for MSM.
Housed within APLA's Education Department, the CBR unit is one of few programs of its kind operating within an AIDS service organization.
Applied research conducted by APLA's CBR team addresses topics including: sexual risk and health behaviors; HIV/AIDS treatment education; Medicare policy; substance use; social and cultural factors shaping HIV risk for gay men of color; health disparities; and social stigma and discrimination.
Study findings are used by APLA to develop new services, improve existing ones and highlight trends in the field. APLA CBR findings have been presented at local, statewide, national and international levels.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, "dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
disease, reducing the incidence of HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
infection, and advocating for fair and effective HIV-related public policy."
APLA is one of the largest non-profit AIDS service organizations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its activities include providing bilingual direct services, prevention education and leadership on HIV/AIDS-related policy and legislation.
The agency was founded in 1982 by Max Drew, Nancy Cole Sawaya, Matt Redman and Erv Munro with the financial support of their community of friends and family. On July 28, 1985, APLA held the world's first AIDS Walk
AIDS Walk
AIDS Walk is a walkathon fundraiser that raises money to combat the AIDS epidemic. The funds raised from AIDS Walks usually benefit a local AIDS service organization , which provide services and advocacy for local community residents who are infected with HIV...
, which brought in $673,000. The Walk is now the largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
.
Among the services provided by the agency are oral health, housing
Housing
Housing may refer to:* A House* Social or public housing* Enclosure containing some equipment or mechanism*House dance...
, case management, nutritional health, treatment adherence
Compliance (medicine)
In medicine, compliance describes the degree to which a patient correctly follows medical advice...
, and home health
Home care
Home Care, , is health care or supportive care provided in the patient's home by healthcare professionals Home Care, (also referred to as domiciliary care or social care), is health care or supportive care provided in the patient's home by healthcare professionals Home Care, (also referred to as...
. APLA operates four Necessities of Life Program (NOLP) food pantry locations around Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and collaborates with five other organizations to provide food pantry services across the United States, effectively running the nation's largest network of food pantries for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
APLA Dental Services' main and mobile clinics provide care in underserved areas across Los Angeles County.
History
APLA has four founders—Max Drew, Nancy Cole Sawaya, Matt Redman and Erv Munro.In December 1982, they held the first APLA fundraiser, which raised over $7,000.Many early fundraising events were held in gay bars and discos, as the gay and lesbian community mobilized to fight the disease. A fundraiser at Studio One in March 1984 featuring Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
raised $45,000 for APLA and other new AIDS service organizations.
Then, on July 28, 1985, APLA held the world's first AIDS Walk
AIDS Walk
AIDS Walk is a walkathon fundraiser that raises money to combat the AIDS epidemic. The funds raised from AIDS Walks usually benefit a local AIDS service organization , which provide services and advocacy for local community residents who are infected with HIV...
. AIDS Walk Los Angeles is now the largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser in Southern California.
Days before the first AIDS Walk, it was disclosed to the world that movie star Rock Hudson
Rock Hudson
Roy Harold Scherer, Jr., later Roy Harold Fitzgerald , known professionally as Rock Hudson, was an American film and television actor, recognized as a romantic leading man during the 1950s and 1960s, most notably in several romantic comedies with Doris Day.Hudson was voted "Star of the Year",...
had AIDS. In response, Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
helped to spearhead a drive by the entertainment community to confront the disease. This helped ensure the success of the first Commitment to Life event. The event, held at the Bonaventure Hotel
Bonaventure Hotel
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites is a , 35-story hotel in Los Angeles, California, constructed between 1974 and 1976. Designed by architect John C. Portman, Jr., it is the largest hotel in the city. The top floor has a revolving restaurant and bar...
honored former First Lady Betty Ford
Betty Ford
Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren Ford , better known as Betty Ford, was First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977 during the presidency of her husband Gerald Ford...
, raised $1.3 million. The Commitment to Life benefits, much like the AIDS Walks, became a major annual event.
Benefits and Work Services
Benefits staff help APLA clients with a variety of public benefit programs, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicare, Medi-Cal, General Relief and food stamps. Staff also assist with and accept applications for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). Service extends to one-on-one counseling to Social Security beneficiaries on work incentive programs; referrals to Vocational Rehabilitation and the California Employment Development Department; and online education and job training resources.Case Management Services
APLA provides clients with access to public benefit programs, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicare, Medi-Cal, AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), General Relief and food stamps. Staff provides one-on-one counseling to Social Security beneficiaries on work incentive programs; referrals to Vocational Rehabilitation and the California Employment Development Department; and online education and job training resources.Other APLA services include: Home Health, Clientline, Mental Health, Nutrition Education,Treatment Adherence and Residential Services.
Capacity Building Programs
Shared Action and Shared ActionHD are capacity building assistance (CBA) programs of AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) in collaboration with the Center for HIV Identification Prevention and Treatment Services (CHIPTS) of University California Los Angeles, and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Special Events
The National AIDS Marathon Training Program, Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.), and A Thanksgiving Moment: A Thanksgiving Moment.Global HIV/ AIDs Advocacy
AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) advocates for greater attention to men who have sex with men (MSM) in the global HIV & AIDS epidemic. In September 2008, APLA held its first congressional briefing on MSM and the Global HIV & AIDS Epidemic, and will continue work to ensure implementation of HIV prevention for MSM through PEPFAR.In addition to domestic advocacy, APLA also supports the work of the Global Forum on MSM and HIV by acting as the organization’s fiscal and administrative agent. Guided by its own steering committee of 20 members from 17 countries in the Global South and North, the MSMGF is committed to responding to HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with men worldwide through advocacy, information exchange, knowledge production, network development and programs that promote human rights and support the empowerment of MSM around the world.
Congressional Briefing on MSM and HIV
On Monday September 15, 2008, APLA coordinated a congressional briefing on men who have sex with men (MSM) and the global HIV & AIDS epidemic, held in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.The event was aimed to raise awareness of the disproportionate impact of HIV & AIDS among MSM globally; of the complex factors that fuel transmission; and progress towards universal access to HIV-related services for MSM.
Community Based Research
The Community-Based Research (CBR) unit at AIDS Project Los Angeles provides culturally, linguistically and gender-appropriate research designed to improve services to people, communities and institutions affected by HIV/AIDS. The program also serves as a resource to other organizations conducting community-based research.Housed within APLA's Education Department, the CBR unit is one of few programs of its kind operating within an AIDS service organization.
Applied research conducted by APLA's CBR team addresses topics including: sexual risk and health behaviors; HIV/AIDS treatment education; Medicare policy; substance use; social and cultural factors shaping HIV risk for gay men of color; health disparities; and social stigma and discrimination.
Study findings are used by APLA to develop new services, improve existing ones and highlight trends in the field. APLA CBR findings have been presented at local, statewide, national and international levels.