News from Island Coast AIDS Network

The Island Coast AIDS Network welcomes Michael Graves as the new manager of the ICAN Junction Thrift Store in North Fort Myers. A native of Texas Graves is a Navy veteran and former district manager for Sprint Communications with over 15 years of retail management experience. The Junction accepts donations of new and used home improvement materials such as kitchen cabinets, doors, windows, furniture, appliances, tile, carpet, paint, electrical equipment, plumbing, etc. for resale at prices 50 to 75% below retail. Proceeds from the Junction go to support ICAN client programs for more information on ICAN Junction or to arrange a free pick up of a donation call (239) 997-4226. Open Monday-Saturday 9am - 5pm.

Learn the Facts about HIV & STD's
Weekly classes every Wednesday at ICAN's Centex Center from 5:30 to 8:30 PM.

Free and confidential HIV testing offered every Monday - Friday.
Call in advance for reservations and more information (239) 337-2391.

An open letter from Mike Dias, ICAN's Collier Case Manager, to the members of the Naples Celebration Metropoliton Community Church

Dear ICAN friends,

Another year has passed and once again... I alone selfishly accepted all of the smiles, laughs, cheers, hugs and tears... all of which were meant for you.

During the week of December 20^th I delivered food, blankets and Christmas gifts to all of Collier County's ICAN clients and their families. All of which were donated by all of you. There was food of all kinds, warm blankets and bags and bags of wrapped Christmas gifts. There were winter jackets, sneakers, toy trucks and dolls, perfume and aftershave, jogging suits, soccer and foot balls, children's books, gift certificates for food and so much more! And let me not forget a new bicycle to help a client get to so many needed appointments. Yes, another year has passed and once again I had the all the joy of distributing your gifts of love and generosity to our clients from you. You are God's blessing to those we serve.

ICAN Raises over $5,000 for the United Way

The staff and Board of ICAN recently participated in the 2011 agency campaign for the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties pledging and donating a total of $5,098.00 towards this year's goal. As a Pacesetter organization in the United Way, ICAN sees firsthand the great works and needed help that is given out every year by charitable organizations throughout the area with assistance from the United Way. The Island Coast AIDS Network encourages everyone to LIVE UNITED and support this year's pledge drive by making a contribution to the United Way!

SAVE 50 - 75% OFF RETAIL AT ICAN JUNCTION!

Illustration by Doug Macgregor

Hi, my name is Jack and I'm the mascot for ICAN Junction.

In 2005 our agncy opened the ICAN Junction Thrift Store...as a green way to independently raise additional money for our client programs. The ICAN Junction is not your normal thrift store...we don't handle clothing, shoes and the like. The donations we DO take at ICAN Junction are saleable home improvement items....doors, kitchen cabinets, furniture, windows, floor & wall tile, lighting fixtures, large & small appliances, plumbing fixtures, hardware & tools and well...you get it, right? So, if your company has leftover inventory, you're renovating or

de-cluttering and have items to donate....call us! We have a truck and will gladly pick up your donations.

239.997.4226

ICAN Junction

Handbag Happy Hour Doubles Previous Year

The 8^th Annual Handbag Happy Hour came to a successful close on Friday night, November 5th raising a total of $35,883 for the Island Coast AIDS Network (ICAN). Over 250 designer and celebrity handbags were purchased and bid upon during the event which was held at the sparklingly beautiful Miromar Design Center in Estero.

Co-Chairs June Miller and Angela Schivinski along with their committee of volunteers staged an elegant and festive evening for all who attended.

Celebrity purse donations played a big part of the fund raising success with donations sent by such stars as Reba McEntire, Gwyneth Paltrow, Taylor Swift, Kim Basinger, Florence Henderson, Glenn Close and others.

In addition to the celebrity donations, CHICO'S designer Michael Chase created a one-of-a-kind bag for the live auction. Pam Durkin, noted Naples purse designer also created a unique handbag for the live auction. The collection of donated purses from retailers, designers, celebrities and individuals surrounded the Miromar Design Center atrium and kept the energy level of participants charged up the entire evening!

ICAN Board Adds Two New Members

The Island Coast AIDS Network, Inc. (ICAN) announces the BOD Hodges-Larkin election of two

new members to the Board of Directors, Dr. Jeffrey Larkin and Elizabeth Hodges.

Ms. Hodges (Liz) is Vice President, Brand Manager with Chico's FAS. She has over 20 years of retail experience and strong financial acumen. Hodges states "Giving back is important-it's how my parents raised me." She has supported HIV/AIDS education and awareness for the past 15 years.

Dr. Larkin is a Pathologist with Naples Pathology Associates, Inc. He graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Michigan State University. ICAN's President, Craig Ruthsatz, welcomed Dr. Larkin to the board, "With Jeff's knowledge of HIV/AIDS and other blood borne diseases he'll be a vital addition to our AIDS prevention work at ICAN."

ICAN welcomes both to our board and looks forward to the benefit of their guidance and expertise. ICAN invites additional qualified professional individuals to apply for membership to the Board of Directors. Please contact Carolyn Moore at cmoore@icanswfl.org for an application form and additional information.

Secret Santa Toy Drive benefits 300 ICAN Kids

A sample of the hundreds of donated toys waiting to be delivered to the children of ICAN's clients

ICAN Volunteers led by Melissa Shannon and her mother Flo gave up weekends, solicited sponsors and traveled throughout SW Florida collecting toys, gift cards and presents for ICAN families and their children. The 7^th annual toy drive got underway on "Black Friday" November 26^th at the Coconut Point Mall in Bonita with 105.5 The Beat FM and Lee Tran helping to "stuff a bus" with toys. That was followed with two other collection drives at the Wal-Mart on US 41 and Six Mile Cypress and then concluded at Miromar Outlets on following weekends. Drop off locations for toy collection Beef O Brady's Restaurants, Harley Davidson of Fort Myers, George's Complete Auto Repair, Infinity Spa and Salon, Kia of Naples and the Lazy Dog in Cape Coral. With sponsorships or contributions from www.discountpets.com, Direct Flooring, The Office Pub and Horseman's Landscaping services. We are hugely grateful to all of these Secret Santas who made this one of the best-ever Christmases for our clients and their children.

Fort Myers High Students Conduct Food and Clothing Drive for ICAN

Members of the Fort Myers High School Red Cross Club present an

oversized check to ICAN.

The members of the Fort Myers High School Red Cross Club recently adopted the Island Coast AIDS Network as a community project and launched a donation drive for the both our client's food pantry and clothing closet. The students presented ICAN with a check for $1,100 for the food pantry and also collected boxes of clothing that ranged from sweaters to blue jeans. Kara Presbrey, the club's president, researched several organizations and after viewing ICAN's website proposed to her members that they choose ICAN for this season's charity drive based on the variety of services provided to our clients and their families.

The $1,100 raised will allow our food pantry to purchase over $6,000 worth of food from the Harry Chapin Food Bank... and the clothing donation came at a perfect time as the weather grows colder. Many warm thanks to our fine friends with Fort Myers High School Red Cross Club!

Directors Step Down from ICAN Board

ICAN bids a fond farewell to members of the Board of Directors who are resigning and retiring from their positions. After reaching term limits of seven years, John Lopez of Myers, Brettholtz and Company stepped down as our Board Treasurer. Board Members June Miller, Will Hutt and Richard Fain also departed their positions due to business and family obligations. Miller was co-chair of our 2010 Handbag Happy Hour and is a partner in the Norton Miller Group of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Hutt is a principal in the La-Te-Da Salon and Spa and has long been and will continue to be an active supporter of ICAN events and fund drives. Fain is with Wachovia Bank and is helping form a sports management company that will specialize in promoting SW Florida athletes. All will be greatly missed and well remembered for their dedication to the mission of ICAN.

In conjunction with the December 3^rd Downtown Art Walk, the Island Coast AIDS Network and fifteen partner organizations presented a "Lost Art" display in Fort Myers' Centennial Park. The well attended event was a memorial to the lost work of artists who have died of HIV/AIDS. Agencies such as Lee County Health Department, Red Cross of Lee County, Quality Life Center and others presented a health fair for the public and ICAN provided free and confidential AIDS /HIV testing for 40 people. Spirited holiday entertainment was provided by the vivacious Calendar Girls Dance Troupe and the Dunbar High School Marching band with the evening being emceed by ICAN's Director of Development Mitch Haley. The night was capped off with a memorial candle lighting ceremony to remember those lost to AIDS. Many thanks to the evening's organizers, Dan Mitton, Donnamarie Hamilton-Ross, Amber Beckwith, Bob Petersmith, Steve Christou, Clinton Robbins and many others for their volunteer efforts and hard work and to our corporate supporters Sam's Club and MAC Cosmetics.

A Letter of Thanks.......

Dan Mitton, Director of Education & Prevention, Donnamarie Hamilton-Ross, Educator, and ICAN's staff and volunteers have changed countless lives through HIV/AIDS awareness presentations and behavior modification courses. One of the most difficult things to deal with is the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in a loved one.

HIV letter