The observance of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day on October 15 is reminder that while Hispanics represent 16 percent of the population, they account for 21 percent of new HIV infections in the US. In San Antonio, where the Hispanic population is about 63 percent, the effort to raise awareness is especially important. The theme…
SAAF appoints new president
Seven months after they fired their executive director, the board of the San Antonio AIDS Foundation announced on October 9 that they hired a replacement who will now hold the title of president. The appointment of Cynthia Nelson as president of SAAF ends a months-long search to replace former Executive Director David Ewell. Nelson 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…
Grand opening for SAAF testing center
Although the San Antonio AIDS opened their new testing center last July, the official grand opening will be observed on Saturday, September 12 with an open house. “We want everyone to come out, have fun and see what we have to offer,” says Regina Villalobos-Perez, vice president of marketing at SAAF. “We encourage people to…
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…
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…
Rips declines interim directorship at SAAF
Jill Rips, deputy director of the San Antonio AIDS Foundation, has declined the position of interim executive director after being named to the job last week. Rips got the interim appointment on April 20 after SAAF’s board of directors fired Executive Director David Ewell, who worked at the foundation for 23 years. SAAF spokesperson Regina…
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…