AFAN
WHY WALK?
HIV/AIDS is EVERYONE’s public health issue. AIDS Walk Las Vegas is Nevada’s most significant fundraising event in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It funds supportive services designed to stabilize and empower clients living with or affected by HIV, including:
Guiding our clients through our referral and monitoring programs
Connecting clients with HIV specialists in various fields of medicine
Prevention education, including weekly seminars for clients and providers, as well as community outreach initiatives
Taxi vouchers and bus passes for transportation to healthcare providers
Rent and utility assistance
Nutritional counseling, food vouchers, and dietary supplements for those affected by weight-loss due to HIV progression
Kids’ program that ensures children affected by HIV enjoy a sense of normalcy
All AFAN programs are designed to eliminate fear, prejudice, and the stigma associated with the disease.
Join Grand Marshals Penn & Teller – along with local celebrities, businesses and community leaders – in making this a Las Vegas-style landmark event in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
For AFAN’s 30th anniversary, Penn & Teller are challenging walkers to raise at least $250. If you achieve this minimum goal, Penn and Teller will match your fundraising dollar for dollar!* If you want a shot at doubling your contribution, join the Penn & Teller Challenge when you register!
*Penn & Teller Challenge donations will be matched until the maximum amount is reached.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Last year, more than 12,000 people walked with us to raise awareness for the cause. We invite you to walk with your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, or alongside the thousands of other members of our community who come together to show their support.
Every donation counts, no matter the amount. Our online registration website has great fundraising ideas to help get you started, or you may share your unique idea(s) to help motivate and inspire others to reach their goals. Aim high and be creative, passionate and persistent – your success may surprise you! Invite your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to join you and/or sponsor you for AIDS Walk Las Vegas. Also, many companies will match your contributions through a Matching Gift Program. Check with your employer and encourage your donors/sponsors to do the same.
Although medical advances have improved and prolonged many people's lives over the last few decades, the need for AFAN's services continues to be crucial. In 1984, the founders of AFAN did not imagine that there would still be a need to advocate for our clients 30 years later. So much has been accomplished of which we should all be proud, yet as we know, there is still much to be done. Your support, hard work and generosity will allow us to continue our mission.
Date
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Location
University of Nevada Las Vegas
4505 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Walk activities begin in front of the Student Union
The Walk Route is about 3 miles around the UNLV campus
Event Times
Registration 8:00am-9:00am
Opening Ceremony 9:00am-10:30am
AIDS Walk 10:30am-12:00pm
After Walk Picnic 12:00pm-2:00pm
Walker Fundraising Incentives
$50+ Official Event T-shirt
$250+ AFAN Water Bottle
Official Event T-shirt
$500+ Royal Court Crown
AFAN Water Bottle
Official Event T-shirt
Walker Awards*
Highest Fundraising Walker
Highest Fundraising Team
Largest Team
* Winners will be determined on Friday, May 2, 2014 at 6pm
Presenting Sponsors
Together We Make a Difference
1120 Almond Tree Ln.
Las Vegas, NV 89104
Medical Case Management
Medical Transportation Program
Education & Prevention
ducation & Prevention
Contrary to what many people think, HIV continues to spread at an alarming rate in Southern Nevada. Since an important aspect of our core mission is to reduce the current rate of infection in our community, our well-trained HIV Prevention Specialists conduct educational seminars and outreach efforts targeting high-risk groups. We work with a wide array of HIV service providers to ensure that our intervention efforts are age appropriate, culturally diverse and reach all segments of the community.
To schedule a HIV 101 seminar, request information on testing, and include us in your outreach events, please send us an email at education@afanlv.org.
Care & Share
The Care and Share presentations are designed to provide the community with important information about health and personal well-being. The presentations are open to all individuals interested in attending and will be presented by AFAN’s Care Team. Other professionals in the health and human services fields are also invited to present special topics related to HIV, wellness, steps to navigating the health care system, social services, social support and more.
Scheduled Care and Share presentations are held monthly at the AFAN offices. In order to make the information more widely available, Care and Share presentations will be recorded and placed on social media websites such as YouTube and Facebook. These videos can be accessed by any individual worldwide, creating an international community dedicated to the Care and Share mission of increasing knowledge about personal health.
Club Med Box
“Club Med Box” is a program that was successfully implemented in HIV clinics in both California and Arizona. “Club Med Box” in Nevada is closely monitored by Pharmacists. Started in January of 2009 at AFAN, clients are referred by AFAN staff or providers in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Also, email notifications as well as flyers are posted in various HIV advocacy agencies. Clients are encouraged to bring all medications, including non HIV related medications to “Club Med Box,” to examine potential drug interactions. Lunch is provided during the counseling and education session, which lasts for approximately two and half hours. “Club Med Box” meets the last Wednesday of every month.
Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC)
The Back to Work Gas Card Program through JARC is designed to provide transportation assistance in order for clients to retain employment and reach self-sufficiency. Clients needs to be currently employed, be within income guidelines, and have access to a vehicle in order to qualify for this program.
Lunch & Learn Program
This program provides an opportunity for clients to learn about a variety of topics related to HIV/AIDS. It is organized in conjunction with pharmaceutical companies that specialize in HIV treatment. Clients experience the opportunity to expand their education about HIV/AIDS while enjoying lunch. Mothers, Sisters, & Daughters Mothers, Sisters, & Daughters is a psychosocial wellness group that meets monthly to discuss a variety of topics that impacts women with HIV. Once a month, the members gather to celebrate the unique aspects of womanhood.
Project UpFront
Project UpFront is an interactive group of HIV+ speakers who disperse prevention messages throughout the community. The program is targeted towards students and community agencies working with “high risk” youth and young adults. During panel presentations, HIV-positive individuals tell their personal stories about living with HIV/AIDS and answer questions about their lives and past risk behaviors. The panel stresses options, such as, abstinence, barrier protection during sexual activity, communication, and how important it is for people to make informed choices now, before they have to face the consequences later. Project UpFront speakers help put a human face on the disease and provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals to address their concerns and perceived risks of HIV infection and AIDS. All Project Upfront speakers have received specialized training that enables him/her to educate adolescents about the social and psychological issues that confront people living with HIV/AIDS. Intern training consists of approximately 16-22 hours, plus a 2 hour supervised classroom internship.
VIDA
Vida is a support group for Spanish speaking women who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. This group focuses on providing a safe environment where emotional support is provided. The group also serves as a platform for education, where different topics are discussed such as: HIV information, information on medical treatment, information on the importance of medication adherence, and how to minimize stigma and stress.
St. Therese
AFAN provides transportation assistance for clients, to and from St. Therese Outreach twice a month (excluding November & December). St. Therese is part of the Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) network which provides food assistance and haircuts to HIV positive individuals living in Southern Nevada.
Housing Program
Food Vouchers & Nutritional Supplements
AFAN is the only organization in Southern Nevada to offer food and nutritional services specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of persons infected with HIV/AIDS.
Depending on eligibility, AFAN’s registered dietitian (RD) develops a plan specifically tailored to each individual’s unique needs. It teaches program participants how to make healthy dietary choices, how to use the family food budget correctly and make palatable foods the family will actually eat. This is particularly important for individuals that develop lesions in the mouth that make eating painful or for individuals affected by wasting and lack of appetite related to side effects from medications.
The main goals of food and nutrition services are to:
Assist individuals living with HIV/AIDS maintain the highest level of functioning, which may include the ability to care for children and family and/or maintain employment.
Reduce the number of hospitalizations and other medical interventions required by providing nutrition support and education.
Ensure that low-income program participants do not go hungry by offering various food assistance programs.
Additional information
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