I got this letter containing really bad news from AIDS Services of Austin:
Dear Friends,
Yesterday afternoon I received notice that AIDS Services of Austin is one of the 18 agencies to be eliminated as a United Way Greater Austin (UWGA) partner. The call came after UWGA recognized it would not be able to raise the funds needed to award the 18 agencies the grant funds previously committed. As you can imagine, it is with a heavy-heart that we see this partnership come to a close.
UWGA’s long-standing support of the Jack Sansing Dental Clinic has improved the oral health of people living with HIV and AIDS for 15 years. Over those 15 years, UWGA’s support of the Dental Clinic has totaled nearly $500,000. However, these cuts will mean an immediate loss of $55,000 in support for HIV positive patients needing critical oral health care. You have a chance to make a difference!
Today, the Jack Sansing Dental Clinic provides dental and oral health services to over 1,200 people living with HIV and AIDS. We are asking the community to contribute directly to ASA to maintain this level of service by making a monthly sustainable gift of $25, $50, $75, or more today.
Please, follow the lead of two AIDS Services of Austin supporters, Eugene Sepulveda and Andy Miller, who committed to $100 per month as soon as they heard UWGA’s news. A monthly gift means that, Brian, a 24-year-old HIV positive man, or Shirley, a 38-year-old HIV positive women, or even Sean, a 49-year-old HIV positive man will continue to have a safe place to visit for their dental needs. You have a chance to make an important positive impact at a time of need for AIDS Services of Austin by giving to this emergency campaign and to the programs of ASA. You can make a difference by providing predictable monthly income at a time when others cannot.
This is a major blow to an important program that helps people with AIDS & HIV every day. It is also breathtakingly sad that there are 18 agencies in the Austin area that are all receiving similar body blows. I'm already raising money for the AIDS Walk in October, donations here will benefit ASA right now: my AIDS Walk Austin page
here's informetion about the ASA program most directly affected by this cut
The Jack Sansing Dental Clinic
ASA’s Jack Sansing Dental Clinic provides routine and emergency dental care for people living with HIV and AIDS. This includes oral examination, treatment planning, oral surgery, root canal treatment, periodontal therapy, restorative dentistry, removable prosthodontics, treatment of infection and preventative oral health care.
For those with suppressed immune systems due to HIV or AIDS, proper dental care is of the utmost importance. Treating each patient with compassionate treatment options remains at the forefront of our service goals for the residents of our ten county service area.
History
ASA’s Dental Clinic began in 1991 as the HIV Dental Project, an independently funded and managed satellite project. Dr. Chris Fabre, along with other concerned area dentists and community leaders, initiated the project in response to the need for dental services first identified by the Austin/Travis County HIV Commission in 1990. In April 1992, the Clinic was named the Jack Sansing Dental Clinic in honor of Jack Sansing, a local businessman and benefactor. Mr. Sansing died of AIDS in January 1992.
Why a Dental Clinic for people living with HIV and AIDS?
Wasting syndrome can be a significant problem with people with HIV and AIDS. Patients’ oral health must be in tact in order to facilitate proper nutrition needed maintain and even increase muscle mass, and to help fight the HIV virus. Many of our patients come to the clinic with dietary restrictions (soft foods only) because their teeth are so unstable they cannot chew food properly. Repair of existing teeth and/or new replacement teeth enables patients to chew efficiently and increase the amount of solid foods vital to a healthy nutrition plan.
Patients with HIV are also more susceptible to certain kinds of oral cancers and opportunistic infections. With regular oral exams, dentists specializing in patients with compromised immune systems are better able to provide early treatment and prevent serious illness from untreated oral complications.
Travis County alone has over 5,000 known people living with HIV or AIDS. With the good results of HIV medications, the need for specialized HIV oral health care has never been greater than it is today.
As you can see, this is ab important program that affects the health of people with AIDS & HIV every day. This cut diminishes the health of people, right now - donations today will help people next week, so please donate today at
my AIDS Walk Austin page
Normally on a Friday, I'd do something light & fun. But that doesn't seem to fit today. Please donate if you can.