2017 marks 30 years of service for PCAF, (Pierce County AIDS Foundation) which provides HIV and AIDS programs and services throughout the South Sound region.
PCAF is proud to announce a series of events and activities designed to commemorate the work and history of the organization as it acknowledges 30 years of Courage, Compassion and Resilience. Through the remainder of 2017, PCAF will commemorate this milestone through a series of events in Tacoma and Olympia, a Story Project, fundraising campaign, and a special 30th Anniversary event on World AIDS Day, December 1.
PCAF History:
Since the start of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, PCAF has been on the front lines fighting HIV and AIDS and combating HIV related stigma. PCAF assisted with opening the first legal needle exchange in the United States in 1988; organized the inaugural AIDS walk in Tacoma in 1992; created the Housing Options Program in 1993 to address the needs of our clients for safe, affordable, and accessible housing; served as an incubator for LGBTQ programs in our community; and began providing services in Olympia in 2012 for people previously served by United Communities AIDS Network, which ceased operations in 2011.
The organization continues to grow to better serve our community. PCAF now has two welcoming and renovated offices serving the South Sound region including Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, and Mason Counties.
“In the 30 years since our founding, we’ve deepened our understanding of the HIV virus and the AIDS epidemic, and of the influences it has on people’s lives” stated Erick Seelbach, PCAF’s Executive Director. “Much has changed since we began 30 years ago, but what hasn’t changed is our core mission: taking care of people living with HIV, preventing the spread of HIV, and fighting stigma. What hasn’t changed is the courage, compassion, and resilience that help us carry out that core work.”
30th Anniversary Events
The community is invited to all events, which are free and open to the public. Events include:
– Sept 23: Oly Olio a Performance Festival @ Le Voyeur, Olympia
– Sept 28: UNWIND with PCAF @ Cultura Event Center, Tacoma
– Oct 6-7: Arts Walk Installation @ Downtown Welcome Center, Olympia
– Oct 19: Book Brawl @ Kings Books, Tacoma
– Nov 10: Heartsparkle Players, Traditions Cafe, Olympia
– Dec 1: World AIDS Day and PCAF 30th Anniversary Event @ Star Center, Tacoma
For an updated listing of events and more details, visit www.pcaf-wa.org.
The Story Project
To commemorate 30 years of service, PCAF is collecting stories from our community. PCAF invites community members to share their stories of how they or someone they love have been impacted by HIV or AIDS. PCAF invites submissions from supporters including current and former clients, volunteers, board members, donors, and community partners.
Stories should highlight a moment or moments in PCAF history and demonstrate courage, compassion, or resiliency. If you have a story you’d like to share, contact Jill @ 253-722-0709 or jrose@piercecountyaids.org.
– Pierce County AIDS Foundation
