On Launching Our New Brand, Economic Recovery and Our Annual Fundraiser
June 23, 2009

2009 has been a rough year so far—major budget cuts and shortfalls, the near-collapse of the auto industry, corporate bailouts and financial industry mergers. I know that all of you have been affected in some way. At A&PI Wellness Center, we have also faced hard realities, including substantial decreases in funding this past year. As a result, we reduced our staff by 10% at the end of last year. We made difficult decisions and did so with the intent to survive and thrive and continue our work.

We've also been talking a lot about economic stimulus, recovery and reinvestment at the behest of our new president, President Barack Obama. Since his inauguration, I have been to DC several times to participate in building a national AIDS strategy that is inclusive of not just Asians & Pacific Islanders, but all people of color. In fact, we—the national people of color HIV working group—met with the new AIDS czar, Jeffrey Crowley, in his first official meeting his first week on the job. This is truly a different and hopeful and exciting moment in our nation's history. We are at the table. It is critical that A&PI Wellness Center be as outspoken, influential and vocal as possible. We must claim our own recovery and our own stimulus.

To do this, we needed to really reach out to the community, involving our extended family of donors and supporters. This May 19th, we hosted Bloom: Show Compassion—our annual fundraising gala in honor of National A&PI HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Despite the grim economy and thanks to the enthusiastic support of our community, Bloom was a great success. We continued to increase revenue, due in large part to a truly astounding live ask where the crowd's generosity was matched by the leadership of our own Board of Directors. For the first time, our net revenue was greater than our expenses!

Executive Director Lance Toma unveiling the new A&PI Wellness Center logo at Bloom: Show Compassion

• Expenses were reduced by 30%, in part because of our generous catering and beverage sponsors.
• The live ask for donations at the event was amazing and truly surpassed all expectations. The Board challenged the crowd to raise $1,800, as they would match up to that amount dollar for dollar. Instead our donors were inspired to give nearly $6,000!
• Overall, our gross donations were up from last year, and net revenue from the event was increased by 30%.

The event was not just a financial success, however, but also an emotional and moving experience for everyone in attendance. 2009 is also a time of renewal for A&PI Wellness Center. We spent more than a year taking a close look at our identity. With 22 years of amazing work and service under our belt, we stand out—we clearly have an important place at the table. And, our identity must also stand up and stand out. At Bloom: Show Compassion, we unveiled our new logo, our new identity and the distinct voice of A&PI Wellness Center. This is about our recovery and our stimulus.

This is about our brand—who we are, who we've been and who we will become. Our new logo represents our far-reaching direct services, our research and policy and community building work, as well as our expansive vision and voice. Our influence starts here in San Francisco, stretching across California, across the country and as far as Asia and the Pacific. Our vision of the world includes a universal health care system—for A&PIs, for all LGBT individuals, for all people of color.

This brand, our new A&PI Wellness Center brand, is also about all of you. We will carry our collective community's issues and concerns from San Franciscco City Hall to the White House; we will use our voices to change the way the system works. This is a unique and historic time. We embrace our potential for change and growth. We know who we are—as a people, a community, an organization. We will make a difference.

Peace and Joy,

Lance Toma, LCSW
Executive Director

At Bloom: Show Compassion, we also premiered a new video describing who we are and what we do. I am honored that a few very special people agreed to be in the film, speaking on our behalf. Thank you: Cecilia, Adam, Mark, Wylie, and Tri. I am also forever grateful to Paul Wood (our amazing director) and David Valentin (our brilliant producer) from Monolithworks Corpcomm, LLC. They were a joy to work with and each of them, including their amazing crew (Rich, Conrad, Jenny and Pam) are now officially part of the A&PI Wellness Center 'ohana.

Let us know what you think!