Dear Friends, 

It might sound like it, but I am not over dramatizing when I say, “you save lives.” I know this because you saved mine. Imagine it’s 1988 and you’re at the Alliance Health Project sitting across from an AHP HIV test counselor. Everyone you know who has been diagnosed with AIDS is dead or dying. You KNOW you don’t have HIV.  You’re just there to support a friend.

And then the counselor looks at you, and delivers your death sentence:

“Your HIV test results are positive.”  Remember it’s 1988.

That death sentence saved my life.

I have no idea what that counselor said, only that I felt such care, compassion, and presence that I will never forget her. I left AHP armed with the resources, support and direction I needed to tackle the rest of what was certain to be, my very short life.

Those resources, that support, that direction saved my life.

I doubled down on my recovery and became engaged in my physical and mental health. I even attended an HIV support group for gay men in recovery— they were so welcoming. I utilized those resources I was given like the lifeline they were.

Later, a couple of AHP trainers came to my job to teach the clients and staff about HIV. They were theatrical, plain spoken, and fabulous. I was riveted.  I decided that was what I wanted to do when I grew up. 

I showed up to the interview at AHP feral, chaotic and passionate. And somehow, somehow, the hiring team at AHP saw something in me worth nurturing and mentoring. Something worthy of an opportunity to impact the lives of people like me. 

That opportunity saved my life.

I can’t believe my good fortune. I have enjoyed a 30-year career with the Alliance Health Project, and I was never supposed to live beyond my 20s. I found belonging and purpose and was given the space to give back to others like me, to be of service and have a life beyond my wildest dreams.

That belonging, that purpose, that service has become my life.

It has been such a privilege and an honor to partner with you in this lifesaving, life-changing organization.

Together we have done this. I could not have done this without AHP.  AHP would not exist without donors like you. To save and change lives as AHP does, it really takes every single one of us.  That includes YOU.

Please consider donating today and help AHP reach its goal of $40,000 in honor of a historic 40^th year of service to our community in San Francisco.

Thank you for saving my life.  Thank you for the opportunity to pour my life into this work.  Thank you for being awesome. Now let’s raise some money!   

Sincerely, 

DK Haas
Artist, Survivor, Recent Retiree