It seems fitting that I be writing this testimonial for Women At Risk (W.A.R.) on the anniversary of my diagnosis. When I was told that I had AIDS eleven years ago, I truly believed that my life was over.

The life that for 32 years I had previously taken for granted, in essence, was. My husband and I were stunned. Our dream of having children together would never be realized. We moved through the next few weeks like robots, our grief sometimes overwhelming us. Although I believed my death was imminent, my doctor assured me that with the medications that were available to us (both HIV and prophylaxis), I could live for years.

In the early days following my diagnosis, we lived in the city and I became involved in a local HIV support group. Based on the principles of Louise Hay, the "Hayride" met weekly and was comprised of predominately gay men. Attending the meetings helped me cope with the harsh reality of having AIDS. The group offered me a space to share my feelings and an opportunity to get plenty of hugs. The healing power of a hug from a person who is walking in your shoes is phenomenal!

When I moved to the South Bay in 1994, I became involved with Women At Risk as a client. My introduction to W.A.R. was life changing for me. While I loved the Hayride and still maintain friendships with many of its surviving members, none of them knew what it was like to be a woman living with this disease.

The issues surrounding women as wives, mothers and caretakers are profoundly different than the ones most of the single gay men I knew were facing. Being able to share my fears, hopes and my dreams with other women who are living with the HIV virus has enriched the quality of my life in a way I could never have imagined. Over the years we have laughed, cried, celebrated and grieved together in a way that only women can.

Soon after becoming a client, I felt a need to be of service, and started volunteering in the W.A.R. office. I'd answer phones, sometimes taking calls from newly diagnosed women who needed to hear that an AIDS diagnosis didn't have to mean an automatic death sentence. Some of them I subsequently met in my support group…others I never even knew their real names. That is the beauty of Women At Risk; because we do not accept government funds, we are able to offer our clients whatever level of confidentiality they feel is necessary.

The more involved I became with the organization, the more empowered I felt to fight not only the illness, but the stigma that is associated with it as well. I began to tell more people about my status, hoping to change their perception about who gets HIV/AIDS.

Through the years, I have participated in various Women At Risk activities. There are two in particular that I am very passionate about. The first is our annual Holiday "High Tea", which I help procure gifts for. Each December, we host a "Holiday Tea" for all of our clients. Childcare is provided on site, as is transportation to and from the Tea for those who need it. It is an event that the women look forward to with great anticipation.

Our 9th annual Holiday Tea was particularly special. For the first time, the thirty children in attendance enjoyed a visit from Santa Claus. Through the generosity of many of W.A.R.'s unselfish supporters, all of the children took home a special gift from Santa. Donations from local merchants, restaurants, amusement parks and private individuals provided each of the ninety women with a gift, as well as a lovely holiday "goodie" bag.

I am always amazed at MAC's continued generosity; each year they donate enough product to fill all of the individual gift bags and then some. On more than one occasion, Abbott Labs has graciously funded the event and did so again this year. Thanks to a local group of compassionate and creative people (who we affectionately refer to as "elves"), the room is always festively decorated and the gifts beautifully wrapped. We couldn't make the Holiday Tea memorable for our clients without the generosity of all of these people.

Another special event for Women At Risk takes place in the Spring. This year, on June 01st, 2003, we will be hosting our fifth annual Gospel Brunch Fundraiser at the House of Blues in Hollywood. In trying to stay true to our "grass roots" origin, this event is W.A.R.'s largest fund raising effort. Right after the New Year, it is "all hands on deck" for our staff, Board members and volunteers. We all work together as a team to make the day not only profitable for the organization, but entertaining and enlightening for those who attend.

Last year's theme was "Rock Your Heart & Soul", and we succeeded in doing just that. With such Honorary Angels as Ben Affleck, Phil Buckman, Bryan Cranston & Jasmine Guy on board, we raised not only much needed funds, but awareness in the community. In addition to soul quenching music, our program included two of our clients sharing their stories while surrounded by all of the other women who have gone before them. It is very powerful to look at the stage filled with beautiful women who are willing to put themselves out there in order to educate their community about this disease.

By being responsible for providing education and outreach in our communities, W.A.R. is taking the necessary steps to reduce the spread of HIV infection. We know that education and prevention are still our best weapons in fighting the "war" we call AIDS. It is our hope, in the future, to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and the devastation this virus has inflicted globally. The work is not easy, but this group of powerful and empowered women is up for the task.

Going into our twelfth year as a small, non-profit AIDS service organization, W.A.R. still has so much work to be done. While we have been able to successfully do the work in a relatively small office space for years, we are now ready to "put it out to the Universe" that we need a larger one. Since we are a women's support and service based organization, we would like to have our office provide a more welcoming atmosphere for our clients.

The new environment would provide not only office space where all the "work" would get done, but additional space for meditation, support groups, art classes, yoga or even creative writing workshops. We have visualized a space that is safe and pleasant for both our existing and new clients, a space where they can feel free to drop in at any time.

We know that this space exists; we just don't know if we can make it fit into our already tight budget. W.A.R. has been in its current space for many, many years, and as a result, we pay a monthly rent that is comfortable for us. It is difficult to justify to my Board of Directors a substantial increase in that amount. Therefore, I ask that you take into consideration our need to enhance our space when making your decision regarding a financial contribution to Women At Risk.

I know that I speak for everyone at W.A.R. when I say "thank you" for taking the time to read about Women At Risk and the very important work that we do.