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CAP Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :: Contact: Shane Kinkennon (303-495-3862) :: shane@kinkennoncommunications.com

Four AIDS Service Organizations in Colorado Merge, Form Unified Response to Evolving Need

October 3, 2011 … Denver, CO … Four AIDS service organizations (ASOs) in Colorado announced today that they have merged to form the new, statewide Colorado AIDS Project to increase efficiency and funding opportunities. The four merged organizations are:

-- Denver Colorado AIDS Project (DenverCAP) in Denver (formerly known as simply Colorado AIDS Project):

-- Northern Colorado AIDS Project (NCAP) in Fort Collins

-- Southern Colorado AIDS Project (S-CAP) in Colorado Springs

-- Western Colorado AIDS Project (WestCAP) in Grand Junction.

“The merger of these organizations is the right decision at the right time for people impacted by HIV and AIDS in Colorado,” said Ruth Pederson, executive director of the now renamed Denver Colorado AIDS Project and interim CEO of the new statewide organization. “The experience of the organizations’ clients, who are people living with HIV and AIDS, will remain immensely and uniquely local, as will the experience of those touched by our great prevention and education programs.  But the unified front will mean greater efficiency, greater access to funds, and greater leveraging of funds to meet the evolving needs presented by this pandemic.

The merger became final on October 1st. The new merged organization is headquartered in Denver and led by a new board of directors comprised of members of each of the regional CAPs’ former boards, which now serve as regional councils. Each of the regional ASOs will maintain the same mission, programs and services, locations, staff, and volunteer leadership. See full list of board members here.

Each of the ASOs provide services to people living with HIV/AIDS and education programs to fight the spread and stigma of the disease. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment estimates that there are 10,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Colorado. At least an additional 8,000 people are at risk of new infection. The new, statewide Colorado AIDS Project serves those people, particularly those among them who are underserved, low-income, have co-occurring medical issues, and/or are homeless. HIV and AIDS transmission in the state has increased 15 percent over the last five years.

The name of the CAP in Denver is the only one of the four organizations’ names that has changed as part of the merger. Formerly known as “Colorado AIDS Project,” the Denver ASO now assumes the name “Denver Colorado AIDS Project.” Read more about that name change here.

Please visit the MergingCAPs blog, published by the new, statewide Colorado AIDS Project, that is devoted specifically to the merger.

About the Colorado AIDS Project

The mission of the Colorado AIDS Project is to equitably meet the evolving needs of people affected by HIV through prevention, care and advocacy across Colorado. Colorado AIDS Project envisions a future where all people living with HIV and AIDS have equal access to high quality primary and specialty medical care that is caring and culturally competent; where HIV-related stigma and homophobia is erased; and where those at-risk have access to accurate information so that transmission of the disease is lessened/ended.

DINING OUT FOR LIFE, APRIL 26TH, 2012