ICAN/AHF Merger Moving Along
Talks have advanced in the upcoming merger for ICAN and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). Both organizations have been submitting the required operational and financial documents for review by their respective Boards and ICAN's Executive Director Carolyn Moore has been busy scouting possible locations for the new entity once the process is completed. AHF is planning to enhance the services ICAN currently delivers to its clients and the general public with the addition of a clinical Healthcare Center, a non-profit pharmacy, a mobile HIV testing van and other services. Through AHF, ICAN will become part of a global HIV/AIDS organization that is currently serving over 176,000 individuals in 24 different countries. |
Health Grant will Promote HIV Testing in Lee
The Education and Prevention Department of ICAN has applied for and received a grant from the Lee County Health Department to provide a condom distribution, outreach and testing program called "Wrap It" to high density minority population areas of Lee County. Instead of waiting for members of those communities to come to ICAN the "Wrap It" program will send professional educators to targeted neighborhoods to teach prevention and promote testing in the battle to control HIV/AIDS. Using part time employees and trained volunteers ICAN, in partnership with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, will conduct monthly mobile HIV testing events in high impact neighborhoods and at-risk communities. The free testing combined with the outreach, prevention, distribution and education programs will strive to ensure that the unseen HIV cases in Lee County are located, identified and referred into treatment. By helping individuals become aware of their HIV status ICAN will be able to directly impact the amount of new HIV cases in Lee County.
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Introducing Dr. Hamilton-Ross, PhD
 | | Graduation attendees applauded as Dr. Hamilton-Ross (seated) is granted her PhD. (Pictured L to R) Dr. Ron Bowman, Dr. Nancey Wyant, Dr. Donna Marie Hamilton-Ross and Dean of Students Marcia Brooks |
by Carlene Lawrence
One of ICAN's premier volunteers, supporter and friend, Donna Marie Hamilton Ross, was granted an honorary Doctorate degree by Hodges University. Donna Marie has been a student at Hodges completing both Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Public Administration. During much of this time, she has also been quite ill. Her illness, however, never slowed her down. After receiving her Master's Degree last month, she decided it was time she took a step back, and would not be able to continue on for her Doctorate. One of her professors, Dr. Peter Karastamatis, who had taken Donna Marie on under his wing as his work study, and had spent much time with her, thought this to be a travesty. He thought, many people in this country receive honorary degrees, mostly celebrities and those who have bestowed large sums of money to educational facilities. Dr. Karastamatis felt none of these people deserved an honorary degree more than Donna Marie. So he set forth on a mission to plead his case to the powers that be at Hodges University. His plea was met with overwhelming support.
Congratulations to Dr. Donna Marie Hamilton-Ross, PhD. |
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Fund Raisers Include Dinner and a Show
 | | Part of the crowd supporting ICAN at the Jason's Deli "Power of 10" fundraiser included Ken and Kate Gooderham, Jack and Lucy Costa, Diana Willis of Jason's Deli and Carolyn Moore of ICAN |
May and June saw two different fund raisers hosted by friends of ICAN that provided entertainment and excellent eating. On May 18th, Theatre Conspiracy presented the play "Love Letters" by A.R. Gurney featuring ICAN's Director of Development, Mitch Haley and his wife Joann in the title roles. The play is one of Gurney's most popular scripts that details 50 years of letter writing between a man and a woman starting in their childhood. Theatre Conspiracy invited nine different couples to perform it over a three week period with 50% of the proceeds going to the charity of the actors choice.
Then on Monday, June 4th ICAN was the first of ten local charities to be the recipient of 10% of all dinner sales at the Jason's Deli "Power of Ten" anniversary celebration. The restaurant is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Fort Myers and decided to give back to the community by choosing local charities to receive a percentage of its Monday evening sales.
ICAN is gifted to have such great corporate friends and supporters who step forward with fun and innovative ways to help our clients. |
