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A BIG THANK YOU to all who rode, ran and contributed to the Hill Country Ride For AIDS! Team Wright House was the third highest fundraising group. The RIDE is our largest non-grant donor and we are grateful to those who make it so. We appreciate all the support.
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LOOKING BACK...AGAIN
In May we remembered and celebrated our mothers, those who gave all for their country and those taken by AIDS. The disease is global but our friends, family and clients are very local. We are grateful for their presence in our lives, past and present.
Participants in Austin's 14th Annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial joined together once more in Republic Square Park as dusk drew near. Together with speakers and community leaders such as Lloyd Doggett, they gave meaning to this year's theme of "In Solidarity" with those living with and/or affected by HIV. Dr. David Barstow, President of Empact Africa updated listeners on activities at the international level; Ms. Shanika Cornelius, Team Leader for The Texas Black Women's Initiative and HIV Planning Council member also spoke.
Local ASOs (AIDS Services Organizations) submitted names of those lost to AIDS the past year for remembrance and celebration.
All those lost to us at The Wright House Wellness Center are memorable. We remember one who was more than a client to us, Jeff Janosek.
Click here for photos of the evening. |
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REMEMBERING ONE OF OUR OWN
 Jeff Janosek's ashes are at home with his father and mother, under a beautiful petite mid-century Magnavox 'hi-fi.' His dad, a youngish-looking 90 year-old, always comments to Jeff when he hears one of Jeff's favorites-especially Olivia Newton-John's You're the One That I Want from the musical Grease. Jeff attended her concerts, had his picture taken with her and even collected candles with her image. Before he died, Jeff befriended a New Jersey woman with a muscle disease on the internet who shared his passion for the singer's work-and who received all of Jeff's albums on his death.
Jeff made a difference to others as well. After being diagnosed with HIV in 1992 when he was 32, he used his contacts to get himself scheduled as a class speaker so he could share his experiences with students at UT and Austin Community College. An activist promoting disease awareness, he was concerned that increasingly successful treatment would lead to complacency. He got the point across. One student remembered him in a thank you note, saying "I will always consider your lecture an important part of my college education."
And Jeff made a difference at The Wright House Wellness Center. After 20 years with the Austin Library system, Jeff came here when health difficulties made full time work impossible. Aside from being a client and spokesperson, he provided emotional support for countless other clients as a volunteer. Over the course of several years, he went from volunteer and office organizer to newsletter editor and employee responding to IT needs. His office management skills allowed him to put his business administration degree to work as long as he was able. Ultimately, after developing sleep issues and painful neuropathy, Jeff took advantage of additional complimentary therapies offered by The Wright House offered including, massage and acupuncture and the comfort of our HIV Support Group.
Jeff became well-known in the community; he was the subject of a photographer's journal and was featured in a December 1, 2005 interview by the local CBS affiliate to commemorate World AIDS Day, his last. Sadly, in 2006, he died due to complications from his medications.
Jeff's brother Louis recalls him as active and outspoken, with a dry and witty sense of humor, always "very much focused on delivering his message" wherever he could. He is remembered for his homily at the Metropolitan Community Church. According to his father, Jeff's overarching message never varied from "Don't let it get you down; have a good outlook and things will go better."
His mother doesn't look at it very often, but she cherishes a candle with Jeff's image that glows with the bright spirit she will always remember, as will we.
Jeffrey Lynn Janosek, 1960 to 2006
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You can contribute to the
Jeff Janosek Fund, which helps fill gaps in programming not covered by our grants. Please click the 25th Anniversary Sealand complete the comments section accordingly. |
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STAFF PROFILE - DOUBLE DUTY
Shirley, Giron-Douriet
Pre- and Post-Test HIV Counseling, Testing, Linkage to Care and Referral
Her shoes arelarge, but it would take a lot to fill them. Shirley, AKA Brooklyn, divides her time between case management and HIV testing for those most disproportionately affected (African American and Hispanic men (MSM) ages 18-35 and their partners of any age/race/ethnicity; and sexually active African American women, ages 18-55, who participate in our SISTA program and their partners).
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Shirley can immediately provide post-test counseling to build on pre-test counseling in the event of a positive test and as importantly, she can also provide immediate links to care and support.
You won't get this kind of care from an in-home testing kit. But you will get it from Shirley at The Wright House Wellness Center, where we are always Caring for Mind, Body and Spirit. |
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I want to take a quick moment to talk about something I am reminded of every day by The Wright House's Staff, our Board of Directors, our volunteers and all those who help others in any way - compassion. One word that means so much to so many.
The word that inspired the start of our little non-profit 25 years ago. A word I am so grateful to know the meaning of deep in my
soul. An act so lost in today's busy world that I believe it is up to us to bring it back, place more emphasis on it and be
examples of it.
I came across the commencement speech given by humanitarian Paul Farmer to University of Delaware graduates on May 25,
2013. His background in HIV/AIDS work stems back to 1986. He coined a new "disorder" in honor of the day - Empathy Deficit
Disorder (EDD) and highlighted Ryan White and the lack of compassion and empathy given to him when he needed it most, but also
of the compassion and passion of those who fought for the treatment and care so many of our clients rely on now. Dr. Farmer also spoke
of Rwanda as the "only country in sub-Saharan Africa on-track to meet, by 2015, each of the health-related development goals that almost
all the world's countries agreed upon 15 years ago" - 19 years after a genocide took millions of lives and laid waste to the country - due
to the reduction of EDD on a local and global level.
In Dr. Farmer's words, "You can be the cure for EDD in its chronic and acute forms. You can be the folks who address local outbreaks of EDD and also the global pandemic, which has affected people in every single nation on this fragile and crowded
planet. Indeed, ours is a world that requires nothing less than linking empathy and compassion to reasoned plans that harness
it to meaningful action."
So, I challenge you. I challenge you to do something, anything. I challenge you to extend your compassion even further than
you think it can reach. There are many opportunities for you to be involved, make a difference, provide compassion to someone
who needs it. Attend an event that benefits WWHWC, make a cash donation, volunteer, or simply forward this newsletter along.
WHWC has been in the compassion business for 25 years and we aim to be around for as long as we are needed. Please join
us in Celebrating Life.
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PHILANTHRO-FACT
WHO SAID THIS?
"There can be little doubt that a certain amount of corporate philanthropy is simply good business and works for the long-term benefit of the investors."
BIG HINT: His local corporate philanthropy is notable and seems to have worked for him. He is CEO of a $4 billion Austin company on Fortune 500's "100 Best Companies To Work For" list every year since 1998. See end of newsletter for the answer. And call us if your company can support our work or check out our Midnight in Paris sponsorship opportunities.
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SAVE THE DATE
A fundraising event benefiting
The Wright House Wellness Center
Enjoy an evening of entertainment with cocktails and
heavy hors d'oeuvres, evocative of a fabulous and
much-beloved international destination: Paris, France.
Live and silent auctions will feature amazing art,
vacation packages, jewelry and more!
Friday, October 25, 2013 * 6-10 pm
Palmer Events Center * Austin, Texas
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PHILANTHRO-FACT ANSWER
John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, which he co-founded in 1980. For a truly interesting and in-depth discussion of Mackey's philanthropic philosophy as well as others', click HERE.
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Our Mission
To offer care and compassion to
Central Texans living with or at risk of HIV and other chronic illnesses and provide resources for support, education
and empowerment through
sustainable means. |
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