Realizing that funds were needed to educate the community and prevent the spread of the disease, the founders enlisted the help of other friends (who became many of APLA’s early volunteers) and held a Christmas benefit. The party raised more than $7,000, which became the seed money for a new organization. Recognizing that AIDS was not just a gay disease, the founders named the organization AIDS Project Los Angeles. The first board of directors was elected on January 14, 1983.
The Founding of AIDS Project Los Angeles
In October 1982, the four founders of AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA)—Nancy Cole Sawaya, Matt Redman, Ervin Munro, and Max Drew—attended an emergency meeting at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center. The meeting featured a presentation by a representative from San Francisco’s Kaposi’s Sarcoma Foundation about Gay Related Immunodeficiency Disease (GRID), one of the early names for AIDS.
Because fears about the new disease were rampant, these four friends set up a telephone hotline to answer questions from the community. They gathered the limited information available and began hotline trainings, with twelve volunteers in the initial group. The hotline was operated from a closet in the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center, where volunteers answered a single telephone and read information from a one-page fact sheet.
Realizing that funds were needed to educate the community and prevent the spread of the disease, the founders enlisted the help of other friends (who became many of APLA’s early volunteers) and held a Christmas benefit. The party raised more than $7,000, which became the seed money for a new organization. Recognizing that AIDS was not just a gay disease, the founders named the organization AIDS Project Los Angeles. The first board of directors was elected on January 14, 1983.
The Founding of Aid for AIDS
Aid for AIDS was founded in 1983 by a small group of friends in the greater Hollywood area to help others in the community devastated by AIDS. By providing emergency rent, mortgage, and utility payments, AFA allowed people to die with dignity in their own homes.
Candlelight March
From its earliest years, efforts to influence public policy have been a core component of APLA’s mission. In May 1983, APLA sponsored a candlelight march at the Federal Building in Westwood that brought out a crowd of more than 5,000 people. The march was a turning point for community involvement in the struggle against AIDS.
First Brochure
In 1983, the agency also produced and distributed its first brochure on AIDS. It answered basic questions about the disease in English and Spanish. APLA has educated the community ever since to prevent new cases of HIV infection, to empower communities to stay healthy, and to improve the quality of life for people who are living with HIV.
Realizing that funds were needed to educate the community and prevent the spread of the disease, the founders enlisted the help of other friends (who became many of APLA’s early volunteers) and held a Christmas benefit. The party raised more than $7,000, which became the seed money for a new organization. Recognizing that AIDS was not just a gay disease, the founders named the organization AIDS Project Los Angeles. The first board of directors was elected on January 14, 1983.
Gleicher/Chen Health Center
APLA Health & Wellness begins offering primary medical care at the Health & Wellness Center in spring 2014 and undertakes a full renovation of the space, which includes a capital campaign that changed its name. In October of that year, what is now known as the Gleicher/Chen Health Center formally opened in Baldwin Hills, offering a full suite of health services for the community, including primary medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare, HIV testing, STD screening and treatment, and more.
APLA Health & Wellness launched its Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) program at the Gleicher/Chen Health Center in November 2014 and spearheaded the delivery of comprehensive PrEP services with a full-time PrEP navigator, leading the way in the delivery and counseling around this highly effective biomedical intervention in Los Angeles County.
MSMGF Spins Off
Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) separates from APLA and becomes its own 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, with APLA continuing to provide administrative support services.
Realizing that funds were needed to educate the community and prevent the spread of the disease, the founders enlisted the help of other friends (who became many of APLA’s early volunteers) and held a Christmas benefit. The party raised more than $7,000, which became the seed money for a new organization. Recognizing that AIDS was not just a gay disease, the founders named the organization AIDS Project Los Angeles. The first board of directors was elected on January 14, 1983.
Health Education Expansion
APLA Health & Wellness Health Education site opens in Baldwin Hills.
U=U: Undetectable equals Untransmittable
Researchers confirm that antiretroviral therapy is a powerful tool in preventing sexual transmission of HIV between partners. The decade-long HPTN 052 clinical trial reveals that when a person living with HIV achieves viral suppression through treatment, the risk of transmitting the virus to an uninfected heterosexual partner is dramatically reduced — solidifying the role of treatment as prevention in the fight against HIV.
Realizing that funds were needed to educate the community and prevent the spread of the disease, the founders enlisted the help of other friends (who became many of APLA’s early volunteers) and held a Christmas benefit. The party raised more than $7,000, which became the seed money for a new organization. Recognizing that AIDS was not just a gay disease, the founders named the organization AIDS Project Los Angeles. The first board of directors was elected on January 14, 1983.
Our Second FQHC Clinic
In the summer of 2015, APLA Health & Wellness was awarded a second New Access Point grant from HRSA to expand the scope of its healthcare services. The organization celebrated the grand opening of the APLA Health Center, Long Beach on the St Mary Medical Center campus in August 2016, with services including medical, dental, and behavioral health care and PrEP.
UN Controversy
United Nations member states pledge to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, but the meeting is marked by controversy when over 50 nations block LGBT groups from attending. The final resolution minimizes those most at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS: men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people and people who inject drugs.
Realizing that funds were needed to educate the community and prevent the spread of the disease, the founders enlisted the help of other friends (who became many of APLA’s early volunteers) and held a Christmas benefit. The party raised more than $7,000, which became the seed money for a new organization. Recognizing that AIDS was not just a gay disease, the founders named the organization AIDS Project Los Angeles. The first board of directors was elected on January 14, 1983.
Mid-Wilshire Expansion
APLA Health Board approves acquisition of Global Healthcare LA, which becomes APLA Health Center, Mid-Wilshire.
A Need for Health Equity
The New York Times reports that, taken as a group, America’s black gay and bisexual men have a higher HIV prevalence rate than any nation in the world
Realizing that funds were needed to educate the community and prevent the spread of the disease, the founders enlisted the help of other friends (who became many of APLA’s early volunteers) and held a Christmas benefit. The party raised more than $7,000, which became the seed money for a new organization. Recognizing that AIDS was not just a gay disease, the founders named the organization AIDS Project Los Angeles. The first board of directors was elected on January 14, 1983.
Merger
AIDS Project Los Angeles merges into APLA Health & Wellness and rebrands as APLA Health while maintaining its focus on providing healthcare services to the low-income LGBTQ+ community and individuals living with HIV.
A New Look
The Global Forum on MSM and HIV (MSMGF) changes its name to MPact: Global Action for Gay Men’s Health and Rights.
HIVE
HIV-Elders (HIVE) program created for men with HIV 50 years of age and older to improve their health and well-being by addressing stigma, social isolation, social support, connection, and empowerment.
Realizing that funds were needed to educate the community and prevent the spread of the disease, the founders enlisted the help of other friends (who became many of APLA’s early volunteers) and held a Christmas benefit. The party raised more than $7,000, which became the seed money for a new organization. Recognizing that AIDS was not just a gay disease, the founders named the organization AIDS Project Los Angeles. The first board of directors was elected on January 14, 1983.
Dr. Michael Gottlieb
Dr. Michael Gottlieb moves his private practice to APLA Health Center, Mid-Wilshire.
Progress Slows
A new CDC Vital Signs report shows that progress in reducing new HIV infections in the United States has stalled in recent years and highlights the need for increased HIV testing, treatment, and prevention to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S.
Realizing that funds were needed to educate the community and prevent the spread of the disease, the founders enlisted the help of other friends (who became many of APLA’s early volunteers) and held a Christmas benefit. The party raised more than $7,000, which became the seed money for a new organization. Recognizing that AIDS was not just a gay disease, the founders named the organization AIDS Project Los Angeles. The first board of directors was elected on January 14, 1983.
Alliance Joins APLA Health
Alliance for Housing & Healing becomes a subsidiary of APLA Health & Wellness.
Dental Care Expands
APLA Health Dental Center, Downtown Los Angeles remodels and expands with four new treatment rooms (12 total) and introduces specialty dental care services.
Realizing that funds were needed to educate the community and prevent the spread of the disease, the founders enlisted the help of other friends (who became many of APLA’s early volunteers) and held a Christmas benefit. The party raised more than $7,000, which became the seed money for a new organization. Recognizing that AIDS was not just a gay disease, the founders named the organization AIDS Project Los Angeles. The first board of directors was elected on January 14, 1983.
Out Here Sexual Health
APLA Health opens the Out Here Sexual Health Center, Baldwin Hills, funded in part by LA County as a part of its new Sexual Health Express program.
CDU/MLK
APLA Health opens the APLA Health Center, Charles Drew University/Martin Luther King Jr. Medical Campus.
Realizing that funds were needed to educate the community and prevent the spread of the disease, the founders enlisted the help of other friends (who became many of APLA’s early volunteers) and held a Christmas benefit. The party raised more than $7,000, which became the seed money for a new organization. Recognizing that AIDS was not just a gay disease, the founders named the organization AIDS Project Los Angeles. The first board of directors was elected on January 14, 1983.
