Bay Area Reporter - December 14, 2006
Katie Dettman

Kathleen Meyer, who has served the organization as interim executive director for the last seven months, officially joined the organization as its permanent leader December 1. Meyer replaces former director Elisabeth Loeffler, who left the organization earlier this year and is now development director at Project Inform.

"My plan is to build on the 27-year legacy of AOF and the incredible commitment and energy of the current board, underwriters, and corporate sponsors to raise as much money as possible to distribute to HIV/AIDS nonprofit organizations throughout the greater Bay Area," said Meyer.

"Academy of Friends is such a unique and effective vehicle for raising money, and our proposal review process ensures that every dollar distributed is used for critically needed services for those living with HIV/AIDS," she added.

Meyer, 58, who is not gay, previously was a consultant in philanthropy and social entrepreneurship. She served on the advisory board of Share Our Security, a national marketing campaign that encouraged wealthy, older Americans to transfer their Social Security benefits to the indigent, and was deputy director of Equal Rights Advocates, a nonprofit law firm that litigates on behalf of women in economic discrimination cases. She holds a master's degree in business administration from Stanford University.

Jon Finck, public relations committee chair of AOF's board, said that Meyer's annual salary was still in negotiation, but would be under six figures.

In related news, Academy of Friends celebrated the holidays Monday, December 11 with a reception at Le Meridian and announced that 11 Bay Area organizations are beneficiaries of its 2006-2007 holiday grants. About 300 people were in attendance.

The organizations receiving holiday grants included: AIDS Emergency Fund, Children's Hospital of Oakland, Dolores Street Community Services, East Bay Agency for Children, Food for Thought û Sonoma County AIDS Food Bank, Lyon-Martin Women's Health Services, Meals of Marin, Project Open Hand, Rainbow Community Center of Contra Costa County, San Mateo AIDS Program, and the UCSF Positive Health Program. With a $20,000 match from Macy's West employee giving campaign, Academy of Friends granted a total of $40,000 to the 11 organizations.

Representatives from each organization were on hand to receive the grants, including A. Daniel Ramos, with the East Bay AIDS Center; Dr. Ann Petru of Children's Hospital of Oakland; and Leslie Ewing of Lyon-Martin.

Jan Wahl, KRON-TV movie critic, served as master of ceremonies. "I was lucky enough to be raised with a lot of gay men and lesbians. My mother said that when she was a little girl in Waukegan, Illinois, during the war, her best friends rented out rooms in their house. At the top were these two gay men and they became very close friends with my mother when she was a little girl. A hate crime happened and these men were forced out of town, and my mother said: 'If I ever have kids, they are going to know that gay people are just the best, most wonderful, fantastic people and it's all going to be inclusive in my household when I'm an adult.' And that's what happened. Thank you for letting me be part of this community," Wahl said.

Brett Andrews, executive director of the Positive Resource Center, also addressed the crowd. Positive Resource Center provides benefits and career/employment counseling services to over 2,200 people living with HIV/AIDS annually. It is one of the organizations selected to receive an unrestricted grant from Academy of Friends' 2007 gala in February. The Oscar party is the organization's major fundraising event.

"I want to congratulate the Academy of Friends for 27 years of raising funds and raising awareness around the cause of HIV/AIDS," Andrews said. "Your work is to be commended for your tireless and unwavering efforts. It's all volunteer û that is something that is significant."

Academy of Friends employs only two full-time employees and one half-time employee, and has a 28-member all-volunteer board.

Over the last two decades, Academy of Friends has distributed nearly $6 million to more than 60 organizations serving men, women, and children affected by HIV/AIDS.

"Our new tag line, 'Celebrating life, empowering hope,' says it all," said Meyer. "Come to our events, especially the gala on February 25 at Fort Mason. Contribute, volunteer, partner with AOF, and by doing so you can make a real difference in the lives of people who need our help."

For more information, visit www.academyoffriends.org.

061214
BR061210

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .