ActionAIDS was founded in 1986 with the mission that no
one should face AIDS alone. We are a non-profit organization meeting
the physical and emotional needs of men, women, and children. As Pennsylvania's
largest AIDS service organization, ActionAIDS has a staff of 85 full-time
and 15 part-time employees, as well as 400 active volunteers. We have
offices in West, North, and Center City Philadelphia and work
out of an additional 24 locations throughout the city.
ActionAIDS works in partnership with people living with HIV and their loved ones to help them cope with the ramifications of HIV disease and to sustain the quality and dignity of their lives. Each year we serve over 3,500 individuals and 150 families with HIV. We educate 10,000 individuals through group presentations, as well as provide outreach in streets, shelters, recovery houses, prisons and other places where people at risk for HIV meet. ActionAIDS also answers over 6,000 inquiries for information and referral each year.
ActionAIDS' services are available without charge. Today 68% of our clients are African-American, 9% are Latino/a, and 23% are white or other. Nearly 38% of clients served are women and 18% are children and youth. ActionAIDS is governed by a board of directors reflective of the epidemic with significant representation of the HIV community serving as boards, staff and volunteers. Our commitment to social justice extends beyond HIV and over 5% of our staff works productively with other disabilities. The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations selected ActionAIDS as the recipient of the 2000 Human Rights award for Nonprofit Organization.