“I’m happy to be out there and say that SAAF is alive and well.” As the San Antonio AIDS Foundation prepares for its 30th anniversary in 2016, the organization announced in October the appointment of its new president, Cynthia Nelson. Founded in the back of a gay bar by Robert “Papa Bear” Edwards in 1986,…
San Antonio AIDS Foundation at a Crossroads
Nearly 30 years ago, Robert “Papa Bear” Edwards started the San Antonio AIDS Foundation (SAAF) in the back of a gay bar. From those humble beginnings, the organization has flourished, and now appears to be ready for another growth spurt under newly hired president Cynthia Nelson. However, for Edwards and some supporters, that growth has…
A painful separation as SAAF moves patients to nursing homes
A plan to move long-term patients at the San Antonio AIDS Foundation to nursing homes took a toll on the relationship of two residents who have been roommates and companions for the last 16 years. On September 18, the two men, Rogelio Saucedo and Armando Castro, were separated without being given an opportunity to say…
Council members express concern over SAAF leadership
Updated: August 11, 2015, 3:30 p.m. Three members of the City Council expressed concern over recent management changes at the San Antonio AIDS Foundation during a discussion last Thursday about the distribution of funds to provide housing for homeless people with HIV. As reported in the Rivard Report, Rebecca Viagran, Cris Medina and Shirley Gonzales…
SAAF executive director issues statement on “up yours” comment
Jack Downey, the interim executive director of the San Antonio AIDS Foundation, issued a statement today in response to a report yesterday on KSAT-TV where he is shown responding to a volunteer with the expression, “up yours.” According to KSAT, “Downey uttered the words during a heated confrontation with Anthony Medrano, whose cousin died at…
Ewell issues statement on departure from SAAF
David Ewell is speaking out for the first time since the board of directors of the San Antonio AIDS Foundation, under the leadership of President Anne Marie Simmons, terminated him from his job as executive director on April 20. Ewell’s firing was first made public by SAAF founder Robert “Papa Bear” Edwards, who forwarded Out…
Dr. Delia Bullock to SAAF board: Explain why David Ewell was fired
Dear San Antonio AIDS Foundation Board Members, My name is Delia Bullock and I am a local internal medicine doctor and HIV specialist. I work as the Medical Director of the University Health System FFACTS Clinic and I am on the faculty in Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San…
SAAF appoints interim executive director
The San Antonio AIDS Foundation announced the appointment of an interim executive director via a posting on the home page of their web site on April 30. The SAAF board gave no reason for firing former executive director David Ewell on April 20, other than to say in a letter to employees, “In order to…
SAAF board fires executive director
The board of directors of the San Antonio AIDS Foundation, under the leadership of President Anne Marie Simmons, has fired Executive Director David Ewell. The termination was effective Monday, April 20. Out In SA learned of the Ewell’s firing from SAAF founder Robert “Papa Bear” Edwards, who forwarded the magazine an email from the board…