May 16, 2011

Dear Loyal STOP AIDS Supporters & Volunteers:

First and foremost, thank you all for your continuing loyalty and willingness to be supportive.  Without our wonderful supporters and volunteers, STOP AIDS could never have been as successful in delivering much needed education and services to the community for so many years.

Unfortunately, and as you may know, due to continuing financial struggles at STOP AIDS, the State of Ohio Department of Health reduced our funding by more than $700,000.  We lost our ability to provide case management services for those living with HIV and were forced to lay off the entire case management staff.  Fortunately, Caracole was awarded the funding and has continued providing services to all of STOP AIDS clients - and they have hired most of the case management staff from STOP AIDS.

Additionally, the City of Cincinnati Health Department denied STOP AIDS their Ohio Department of Health funding of more than $100,000 which covered our HIV testing and prevention program and staff.  Consequently, STOP AIDS was forced to lay off all remaining staff.  Currently, there is no prevention education being offered in the community yet we are working diligently to ensure STOP AIDS continues these outreach and testing programs in the near future with a partner agency to continue our mission of fighting HIV/AIDS through education and testing.

As it stands now, STOP AIDS will continue with the 22nd Annual Walk to STOP AIDS to be held at Sawyer Point on Sunday, September 18, 2011.  It is essential for STOP AIDS to continue this important event if we are to continue with HIV testing and prevention programs.  Full Walk announcements will be made as soon as possible.

Please do not lose hope for hope, dedication, and hard work are what we have left.  We hope to prevail and come out of this situation with a sustainable solution in the area of prevention, education and testing, which can continue the effective and life-saving programs the agency has developed and become so respected for over the years.  If so, we’re going to continue to need your support to continue our mission to STOP AIDS!

For more information, please contact:

STOP AIDS Board
info@stopaidscincinnati.org

Client Information
Caracole
513.761.1480
oracle@caracole.org

David White
Former Volunteer Coordinator