The largest AIDS service provider in the city of Philadelphia and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, ActionAIDS provides comprehensive and intensive case management services to approximately 4,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Philadelphia per year.
Additionally, ActionAIDS educates the community with regards to HIV/AIDS prevention and regularly advocates for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Moreover, our efforts are to ensure that no one in our city faces AIDS alone.

Description:
ActionAIDS has a staff of approximately 70 full-time and 10 part-time staff members. Our various departments include: Direct Services, Finance and Human Resources, Education, Management, Volunteer Services, and Development/Fundraising. Our operating budget is approximately 5.0 million per year; and - through our Development/Fund-raising Department -- we raise roughly one-fifth of that money on our own through special events and numerous fund-raisers. Additionally, our funding comes through federal, state and local government grants, corporations and philanthropic and charitable foundations, as well as through private donations.

History:
Eighty-seven volunteers founded ActionAIDS in 1986.

These volunteers broke away from another pre-existing AIDS service organization which focused on HIV/AIDS testing and prevention education. These founding ActionAIDS volunteers believed that the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS were not being adequately met by the existing AIDS service organizations in Philadelphia. Consequently, ActionAIDS was born. Early on we were completely dependent upon volunteers and other community supports such as churches and informal networks to run the organization. In the early years, volunteers actually were providing case management services for those in the community living with HIV/AIDS: advocating for them, helping to access benefits, insurance, medications, health care supports, and, in many cases, providing direct care for people living with the virus.

Over the years we have changed dramatically. Increases in the numbers of individuals served, changes in the profile of those served (more women and racial and ethnic minorities and more children), and expansion in the scope of services which we provide (mental health, prevention education, and job training) all make ActionAIDS a very broad-based and busy organization! Our staff, too, has grown, as has our volunteer base.

Responding to the migration of this disease into areas outside of center city, ActionAIDS now has four office sites: Center City (Arch Street), West Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, and South Philadelphia.

We currently have approximately 325 active volunteers, most of whom are volunteer Buddies. Our Buddy Program is the third largest in the nation, and it is the only one in existence in Philadelphia. The need for buddies, however, is GREAT! The emotional support which a buddy provides for a client is a service which is truly priceless.

Additionally, ActionAIDS volunteers are found at EVERY level of the agency. Our Board of Directors, for example is composed entirely of volunteers!

Contact person: Anthony Morelli, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: 215-864-6930

Address:

1216 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.actionaids.org

Directions:

From I-95, take 676 West to Vine Street. Travel west on Vine Street and turn left on to 12th Street. Take 12th Street to Arch Street. Turn right onto Arch Street. Our address is 1216 Arch. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: 11th and Arch, 5-10 minute walk For maps or information, please see http://www.septa.com/

Miscellaneous Information

Are court referrals welcomed?
	No