Brad Barnes Recognized for Decades of Dedication to HIV/AIDS Advocacy and Care
Wilton Manors, FL – January 16, 2025 – The Poverello Center is proud to honor Brad Barnes for his unwavering dedication and significant contributions to the field of HIV/AIDS care and advocacy. With a career spanning 25 years at The Poverello Center, Brad Barnes has been a beacon of hope and support for countless individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
As the Program Manager and Quality Manager at The Poverello Center, Brad has been instrumental in achieving healthy outcomes and the highest quality of service and care for clients. His role encompasses meeting all grant requirements, launching new programs, and maintaining existing client programs.
Brad’s impact extends beyond his professional responsibilities. He is the former Chair and current member of the Broward County Ryan White HIV Health Services Planning Council, where he was recognized as the Member of the Quarter for June-August 2024. This accolade highlights his ongoing dedication and significant contributions to the Council and the community.
In addition to his work with the Council, Brad has been an active member of the Broward County HIV Prevention Planning Council, the Transgender Medical Symposium Committee, and The Food is Medicine Coalition. His holistic approach to healthcare ensures that clients receive not only medical care but also access to nutritious food, addressing food insecurities among people living with HIV/AIDS.
Brad has also been a committed volunteer with The NAMES Project Foundation/AIDS Memorial Quilt since 1987, acting as the Chapter Program Coordinator in Atlanta, GA, in 2005, and working on the Clinton Foundation Quilt Display at the Clinton Library in Little Rock, AR, from 2009 to 2015.
Throughout his career, Brad has been recognized nationally, at the state level, and locally for his work in HIV/AIDS.
Brad Barnes’ dedication and passion have left an indelible mark on the HIV/AIDS community. The Poverello Center, Inc. celebrates his achievements and looks forward to his continued contributions.
About The Poverello Center, Inc. The Poverello Center, Inc. serves individuals in need with a focus on those living with HIV or other chronic illnesses in South Florida, through a holistic and compassionate approach that includes prevention, nutritious food, essential health services, and basic living necessities.
For more information, please contact: Thomas Pietrogallo tpietrogallo@poverello.org 954-213-5697.
2023 Annual Report HIV Counseling and Testing
HIV Counseling, Testing, and Prevention:
- Conducted HIV tests for 94 individuals, emphasizing the importance of early detection for timely treatment and reduced transmission rates.
- Supported 199 individuals in achieving viral suppression or accessing PrEP/PEP, directly preventing HIV transmission and reducing lifetime healthcare expenses.
IMPACT:
- Leveraging funding from the SMART Ride and Our Fund Foundation, our program potentially saved an estimated $75,553,932 in lifetime healthcare costs, based on CDC’s projection of $379,668 per lifetime HIV treatment (2010 dollars). This underscores the significant cost-effectiveness of our HIV prevention efforts.
- Preventing HIV transmission, our program contributes to avoiding a lifetime of stigma, stress, and relationship challenges, promoting overall well-being and community resilience.
Florida Department of Health in Broward County’s Survey for Ending the HIV Epidemic
To achieve the goal of ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States in 10 years, designated state and local health departments throughout the nation will develop comprehensive “Ending the HIV Epidemic” jurisdictional plans under the leadership of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The initiative will leverage the powerful data and tools now available with the goal of reducing new HIV infections in the United States by 75 percent in five years and by 90 percent by 2030.
The Florida Department of Health in Broward County (DOH-Broward) is launching the first phase of the “Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America” (EHE) Initiative. DOH-Broward is committed to expanding community engagement and involvement. Our Ending the HIV Epidemic Survey can be accessed at www.GetPrEPBroward.com. This important survey is one opportunity for our community to share valuable input on how Broward County can enhance future HIV prevention, early intervention and care efforts. Findings from the survey as well as other opportunities to gather community input will assist in the creation of a plan that incorporates new and innovative strategies.
Please help us to get the word out! Share this with your friends, community, stakeholders, providers and links via social media sites. We are dedicated to incorporating new voices, new partners and new ideas in the effort to end the HIV epidemic.
Here are the links for the survey for each language:
English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KNT6PSY
Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/82H8FLW
Creole: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XPTHYJT
Portuguese: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZNR35W5
Bruce K Lane & Steven E. Gillette Fund Announced
March 7, 2019
The Poverello Center has been named as a beneficiary of a newly created fund at the Central New York Community Foundation Inc. Each May, the fund will distribute funds to the named organizations including, The Poverello Center, Binghamtom University Foundation, Jefferson Community College Foundation; Pet Project, Poverello Center, Broward House, Hospice of CNY, CNY SPCA, Humane Society of Broward County; and the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of South Florida.
Since 1927, people have entrusted the Central New York Community Foundation to carefully manage and distribute their charitable funds. The Bruce K. Lane & Steven E. Gillette Fund is one of more than 700 charitable funds that are managed. They faithfully steward this fund and administer it for the benefit of the Poverello Center, Inc., in keeping with the donors’ intent.
POVERELLO CENTER’S OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV BEST IN NATION
No other food pantry serving people with HIV in the US has better outcomes than our own Poverello Eat Well Center. For the calendar year 2017, our 2627 program participants had a viral suppression rate of 88.31%. Achieving viral suppression is the goal of all HIV therapy. We couldn’t be prouder and have our staff, volunteers and our hard working program participants to thank for taking good care of themselves by accessing community services. U=U (Undetectable = Untransmitable!)
AHF PRESIDENT CALLS FOR UNAIDS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO RESIGN
In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres at United Nations Headquarters, AHF President Michael Weinstein calls for the resignation of UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé “immediately as the first step in reforming the management culture at UNAIDS, a global agency whose website states its mission, “… is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030…”
Read the letter UNAIDS_statement_v5.3.pdf-signed.
POVERELLO RAISES FUNDS TO HELP SERVE PEOPLE WITH HIV
Thanks to the Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival (FAWMF) for having Poverello as a beneficiary, the Center was able to raise $165,000 that when doubled by FAWMF will mean $330,000 for programs we’re implementing for people with HIV and their families.
- Kid Packs for children who either have HIV or their parents live with HIV in Broward, Miami-Dade or Palm Beach Counties. $20,000
- Emergency Groceries for people with HIV who don’t qualify for Ryan White Part A. $20,000
- The remainder of our generator cost not covered by anyone else in preparation for the next emergency to keep our operation running for those with HIV $25,000
- Our Popup Eat Well Center in south Dade and Palm Beach exclusively for people with HIV $150,000
- other programming not covered by any other funder like our Live Well Center $65,000, New truck for our Popup Eat Well Center $55,000 and food for our classes.
Thank You!!
NEW FUNDING: PUBLIX SUPERMARKETS CHARITIES HELPS POVERELLO FEED DEPENDENTS OF PEOPLE WITH HIV FOR THE FIRST TIME
There is a gap between what we at the Poverello Center provide to a single person and what we provide to a family. Because every participant receives one disbursement of food, a mother or father with a family will share that food with their children, meaning per person, there is obviously less food distributed to a family than to an individual. New funding from Publix Super Markets Charities helps us feed dependents of people with HIV for the first time. This funding begins to fill a major gap in need that is represented by poor families who experience HIV and don’t have enough food to eat. Through this funding, we have added a kid friendly, healthy food program with a focus on fresh fruits and vegetables. We provide families who qualify, with a week’s worth of kid healthy food, heavy on fresh fruits and vegetables. The food is enough to feed two children (ages 5-12) for one week. This past year, families of more than 3, represented 650 visits to the food pantry. This program effectively meets the gap represented between what we currently provide for one person, and what we are able to provide for a family with children. For our Healthy Kid Menu, we provide 10 shelf stable items for those aged 2-5; 12 for those 6-10 and 14 for those 11-18. Additions include Kid favorites like Mandarin Oranges, Apple Sauce, Pears, Whole grain Crackers, String Cheese, Cheerios, and more.
Campbell Foundation “Holiday Hug” a Tradition of Support
Bill Venuti, Trustee & Ken Rapkin, Executive Director of the Campbell Foundation with Tom Pietrogallo, CEO of the Poverello Center, Inc.
For 30 years, the Campbell Foundation has provided The Poverello Center, Inc. with a “Holiday Hug.” Their $5,000 donation this holiday season brings their total donations to the center over the years to $75,000.
CEO of the Poverello Center, Inc. Tom Pietrogallo, presented Bill Venuti, Trustee & Ken Rapkin, Executive Director of the Campbell foundation with Poverello’s Ruby Apple in appreciation for the many years of support as they presented their annual “Holiday Hug.”
Pietrogallo says, “We’re fortunate to have support in the fight against HIV from such a well respected and impactful voice in the philanthropic community. Their funded research has made life better for people living with HIV all around the world and here in Wilton Manors. We’re honored that they’ve contributed $75,000 since 1987 to our mission at Poverello to help our program participants live healthier lives.”
Bill Venuti, Trustee & Ken Rapkin, Executive Director of the Campbell Foundation with Poverello’s Ruby Apple Recognition