Latest news with #HIV-AIDS
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Miami Herald
Charities regulator reprimands Prince Harry's former HIV-AIDS charity
Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Britain's charities watchdog ruled Wednesday that all sides were to blame for a damaging public power struggle within Prince Harry's former venture helping children and young HIV-AIDS sufferers in South Africa -- but cleared the charity of bullying, harrassment and misogyny. The Charity Commission's report into allegations against Sentabale by a whistleblower criticized all parties involved for allowing a bitter boardroom dispute to play out publicly, saying that the charity's reputation had been "severely impacted" with a knock-on threat to public trust in the charity sector. The regulator said in a news release that it had issued Sentabale with a Regulatory Action Plan to address governance weaknesses after finding a "lack of clarity around role descriptions and internal policies as the primary cause for weaknesses in the charity's management." It said it had concluded that this situation had exacerbated tensions, culminating in a dispute and resignations of trustees and co-founders Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, almost two decades after Harry set up the charity in memory of his mother, Princess Diana. The commission said the dispute, dating back to 2023 when the Sentabale board was implementing new fundraising strategy in the United States, was between trustees, chair of trustees Sophie Chandauka and Prince Harry, both of whom were accused of throwing their weight around. A spokesman for Prince Harry rejected parts of the report, calling them "troublingly short", while the Chandauka said an "adverse media campaign" waged by the parties that had quit had inflicted "incalculable damage." Acknowleding what it said strong feelings of ill treatment felt by those involved in the dispute and the personal impact of them, the commission said it had found no evidence of widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny directed at women regardless of color, or overreach by Harry and Chandauka. However, it said a lack of transparency in delegating certain powers to the chair fed into misunderstandings and that, along with a lack of formal procedures to deal with complaints, constituted mismanagement. "This case highlights what can happen when there are gaps in governance and policies critical to charities' ability to deliver for their cause. As a result, we have issued the charity a Regulatory Action Plan to make needed improvements and rectify findings of mismanagement," said Charity Commission chief executive David Holdsworth. Among the recommendations, the commission said the charity must establish an internal dispute policy, improve complaints and whistleblowing processes, establish clearer delegation rules and ensure trustees secure adequate funding to deliver for those it aimed to help. In the future, it also expected Sentabale to have writen job description that clearly set out the role of its patron and to improve public-facing discipline to ensure its interactions with the media always put charity's best interests front and center. The Charity Commission said it would be keeping Sentabale under review to ensure it implemented the action plan in full. "Moving forward I urge all parties not to lose sight of those who rely on the charity's services. The current trustees must now make improvements and ensure the charity focuses on delivering for those it exists to serve," Holdsworth said. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
4 days ago
- UPI
Charities regulator reprimands Prince Harry's former HIV-AIDS charity
Britain's Charity Commission wrapped up a four-month long investigation into whistleblower allegations against a charity set up by Prince Harry leveling blame at everyone involved for "mismanagment," but found no evidence of bullying, harrassment or misogyny. File photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Britain's charities watchdog ruled Wednesday that all sides were to blame for a damaging public power struggle within Prince Harry's former venture helping children and young HIV-AIDS sufferers in South Africa -- but cleared the charity of bullying, harrassment and misogyny. The Charity Commission's report into allegations against Sentabale by a whistleblower criticized all parties involved for allowing a bitter boardroom dispute to play out publicly, saying that the charity's reputation had been "severely impacted" with a knock-on threat to public trust in the charity sector. The regulator said in a news release that it had issued Sentabale with a Regulatory Action Plan to address governance weaknesses after finding a "lack of clarity around role descriptions and internal policies as the primary cause for weaknesses in the charity's management." It said it had concluded that this situation had exacerbated tensions, culminating in a dispute and resignations of trustees and co-founders Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, almost two decades after Harry set up the charity in memory of his mother, Princess Diana. The commission said the dispute, dating back to 2023 when the Sentabale board was implementing new fundraising strategy in the United States, was between trustees, chair of trustees Sophie Chandauka and Prince Harry, both of whom were accused of throwing their weight around. A spokesman for Prince Harry rejected parts of the report, calling them "troublingly short", while the Chandauka said an "adverse media campaign" waged by the parties that had quit had inflicted "incalculable damage." Acknowleding what it said strong feelings of ill treatment felt by those involved in the dispute and the personal impact of them, the commission said it had found no evidence of widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny directed at women regardless of color, or overreach by Harry and Chandauka. However, it said a lack of transparency in delegating certain powers to the chair fed into misunderstandings and that, along with a lack of formal procedures to deal with complaints, constituted mismanagement. "This case highlights what can happen when there are gaps in governance and policies critical to charities' ability to deliver for their cause. As a result, we have issued the charity a Regulatory Action Plan to make needed improvements and rectify findings of mismanagement," said Charity Commission chief executive David Holdsworth. Among the recommendations, the commission said the charity must establish an internal dispute policy, improve complaints and whistleblowing processes, establish clearer delegation rules and ensure trustees secure adequate funding to deliver for those it aimed to help. In the future, it also expected Sentabale to have writen job description that clearly set out the role of its patron and to improve public-facing discipline to ensure its interactions with the media always put charity's best interests front and center. The Charity Commission said it would be keeping Sentabale under review to ensure it implemented the action plan in full. "Moving forward I urge all parties not to lose sight of those who rely on the charity's services. The current trustees must now make improvements and ensure the charity focuses on delivering for those it exists to serve," Holdsworth said.
San Francisco Chronicle
01-06-2025
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
AIDS/LifeCycle's final ride: Thousands hit road in Bay Area, ending 3 decades of fundraising
With a tinge of melancholy, more than 2,400 bicyclists gathered Sunday morning to kick off the last AIDS/LifeCycle, bringing to a close more than three decades of fundraising through the annual event for HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support services. Cyclists will travel 545 miles over seven days from the Cow Palace in Daly City to Santa Monica. 'We want to make HIV-AIDS a thing of the past,' said Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said Sunday before setting off for the first leg of the ride to Santa Cruz. 'I'm excited to suit up.' Each day, riders bike anywhere from 43 to 112 miles. Each cyclist raised at least $3,500 from friends, family and the community to support HIV and AIDS programs and services overseen by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. 'I can't think of a better way to honor those that we have lost and also to join the fight against HIV and AIDS,' said Brian Stewart, 32, a political strategist from Los Angeles readying for his inaugural ride. 'I'm really, really excited.' At least 800 volunteers known as 'roadies' turned out to help direct riders, provide medical services to the injured, serve meals and drive cyclists' gear from stop to stop. After the COVID shutdown in 2020, participation in the ride declined and the cost of fundraising rose, prompting organizers to end the annual event, which began in 1994. Over the years, the ride raised a total of more than $300 year, the ride raised $17.2 million, the highest total after 2022. 'Now more than ever, these funds are critical so we can respond to the needs of our communities, particularly when funding for HIV, DEI and transgender communities are under attack,' said Tyler TerMeer, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, who has participated as a cyclist and organizer in the ride for 17 years. 'It's bittersweet that it's the last ride,' said Laura Chung, 39, a nurse at Kaiser Hospital embarking on her second ride. 'But they'll create something new.' Next year, a three-day cycling event will take riders from San Francisco to Sonoma and back. Then in 2027, the Big Gay 10K footrace will take place in San Francisco.
Bloomberg
15-05-2025
- Health
- Bloomberg
Trump Funding Cuts Won't Sink HIV Program, South Africa Says
South Africa will ensure its HIV-AIDS treatment program doesn't collapse despite the withdrawal of support from the US, and 659 million rand ($36 million) has already been allocated to extend access to antiretroviral drugs, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said. South Africa has the world's biggest HIV epidemic and about 17% of the funding for its response has come from America's President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or Pepfar. President Donald Trump suspended that program in January, leaving a hole of 7.9 billion rand.
Business Wire
13-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Saint Francis Foundation Announces Additional $1.32 Million in Community Grants
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Saint Francis Foundation, an independent grant-making charitable foundation, has announced an additional $1.32 million in community grants to local nonprofits providing vital healthcare services to diverse and underserved communities in San Francisco. This new funding brings the Foundation's community grants total to $8.8 million to date. Our community partners are on the front lines in removing barriers to care, assessing social determinants of health, and improving patient access and outcomes. 'Our community partners are on the front lines in removing barriers to care, assessing social determinants of health, and improving patient access and outcomes,' said Saint Francis Foundation President Kate Smith. 'With the current political climate resulting in reductions to vital healthcare services, our community partners have sprung into action to identify gaps in maintaining their essential programming. Through the generosity and insights of our dedicated donors, the Foundation is in a unique position to help offset the impact of these federal actions.' The following grants will support direct patient care services and capital improvements to benefit San Francisco's most vulnerable residents. The grantees are: Larkin Street Youth Services ($325,000 for homeless youth) As the City's largest nonprofit provider for young people experiencing homelessness and other systemic health challenges, Larkin Street Youth Services addresses the social crises and chronic mental and physical health issues for more than 1,800 young people each year. This latest Foundation funding will support Larkin Street's comprehensive shelter program (operating more than 500 beds across 16+ sites), housing, and innovative workforce development and education programs for homeless youth. San Francisco Community Health Center ($325,000 for street medicine and trauma-informed care) With a mission to transform lives by advancing health, wellness, and equality, San Francisco Community Health Center attends to the health and wellness of diverse communities through comprehensive medical, dental, and mental health services. This grant will sustain and strengthen SFCHC's proven street medicine model, which improves quality and health outcomes for more than 200 unhoused Tenderloin residents by delivering low-barrier, trauma-informed care directly where they live. Hyde Street Community Services ($250,000 for intense case management) Hyde Street Community Services provides comprehensive psychiatric, medical, substance abuse and case management services to more than 600 San Francisco residents each year. This Foundation funding will support the HSCS intense case management program, which provides direct interventions to address housing, psych medications and chronic trauma for people living in the Tenderloin. Maitri – Compassionate Care ($225,000 for services for low-income transgender patients) From its beginnings in the Castro as a respite for HIV-AIDS patients, Maitri has grown to provide 24x7 wrap-around services to low-income transgender and gender diverse patients who are recovering from gender-affirmation procedures. A long-time funder, the Foundation is supporting the expansion of the Maitri Affirmation Center, the leading program in San Francisco providing low-income transgender patients with access to nursing care, shelter, food, social programs, and mental health services. Lyon-Martin Community Health Services ($150,000 for expansion of LGBTQ+ services) For nearly 50 years, Lyon-Martin Community Health Services has been a vital lifeline for compassionate and trauma-informed medical and mental healthcare services for the LGBTQ+ community. This most recent Foundation grant will support Lyon-Martin's expansion into its new 17,000-square-foot facility that will enable it to serve 1,000 more patients annually. In 2024, Lyon-Martin completed more than 12,000 appointments and facilitated 549 gender-affirming care referrals. Additional Foundation grants to Curry Senior Center and Sequoia Living are funding integrated mental health services for underserved older adults. 'The Saint Francis Foundation has always supported and celebrated diversity, equity, and inclusion,' said Smith. 'Today, as cuts to federal funding threaten access to care for thousands of underserved residents, we are meeting these challenges with respect, empathy and relentless persistence. Advancing the work of these community organizations has never been more urgent or important.' About Saint Francis Foundation As it has for almost half a century, the Saint Francis Foundation is committed to filling the gap in the delivery of high-quality, equitable and affordable healthcare in San Francisco. Building on its legacy as one of the Bay Area's most respected independent charitable foundations, the Foundation continues to fund innovative patient care and staff training programs at UCSF Health Saint Francis Hospital and provides grants to a growing number of nonprofit community partners who ensure compassionate care for patients and families beyond the hospital environment. Since its founding in 1979, the Saint Francis Foundation has contributed more than $128 million to further community healthcare access and outcomes. For more information, please visit
