Rise n' Shine is a non-profit organization dedicated to offering emotional support to children and teens affected by HIV and AIDS.

Description:
Rise n' Shine's mission is to provide synergistic layers of emotional support and advocacy for children and teens affected by HIV and AIDS. The children of Rise n' Shine live with a parent or sibling with HIV or AIDS, have been orphaned by the disease, or are infected with HIV or AIDS themselves. The majority live in Western Washington from the Canadian border on the north to the Oregon border on the south.

History:
In 1988, when Rise n' Shine was founded, AIDS was primarily noticeable in the gay community. This made the beginning years of Rise n' Shine challenging. In the middle of that melee, it was difficult for communities to see that eventually heterosexual women (primarily mothers) would become infected and that the issues of their uninfected children would create yet another concern on the national AIDS agenda. Our founder was essentially alone with her vision until 1995, when Yale University Press published "The Forgotten Children of the AIDS Epidemic." With the publication of this important book there were only nine listed agencies nationally with year-round programs in place for affected children -Rise n' Shine was the first, and stands as a successful model for other communities who are, for the first time, addressing the issues of these forgotten children.

Contact person: Michael Dunlop, Assistant Director, (206) 628-8949, (email)
Office fax number: (206) 628-6207

Address:

417 23rd Avenue South Seattle, WA 98144 (See a map)

Directions:

Rise n' Shine is located at: 417 23rd Avenue South Seattle, WA 98144 (206) 628-8949 Driving Directions to Rise n' Shine: Heading Southbound on I-5: Take the James St. exit #165A Stay straight to go onto 6th Ave. Turn left onto Yesler Way Turn right onto 23rd Ave. South Welch Plaza is on the right Park in between the two buildings in the visitor parking. If those are full, enter the garage which is located in the visitor lot. Heading Northbound on I-5: Take the Dearborn St./James St. exit #164A Take the Dearborn St. exit. Turn right onto S. Dearborn St. Turn left onto 18th Ave. South Turn right onto S. Jackson St. Turn right onto 23rd Ave. South Welch Plaza is on the right   Nearest Bus Stop: 23rd and Jackson, 1 minute walk