25 Years of HIV/AIDS in Central New York

1981	U.S. Statistics: 422 cases - 159 dead June 5 ~ U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports rare pneumonias and sarcomas in gay men in New York and California, marking the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic The New York Times publishes its first article on AIDS The mystery illness is referred to as GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency)
1982	U.S. Statistics: 1,614 cases - 619 dead Syracuse group headed by Chuck Barry attends weekend training in New York City with the newly formed Gay Men’s Health Crisis to plan Syracuse response to AIDS New York State (NYS) Gay/Lesbian Conference holds a workshop at May Memorial Unitarian Church in DeWitt to discuss health impact of AIDS CDC calls the illness “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome” – AIDS AIDS found in women, children and people with hemophilia
1983	U.S. Statistics: 4,749 cases - 2,122 dead AIDS Task Force of Central New York (ATFCNY) gets $38,000 from NYS passed through SUNY Research Foundation ATFCNY opens office, sets up telephone hotline, in the Wilson Building in downtown Syracuse Central Africa reports major AIDS outbreak French scientists discover HIV
1984	U.S. Statistics: 11,055 cases - 5,620 dead ATFCNY hires Brad Cohen as first Director 90 AIDS cases linked to blood transfusions AIDS virus is classified as a retrovirus, only the second known to infect humans San Francisco gay bathhouses are closed
1985	U.S. Statistics: 22,996 cases - 12,592 dead Studies show HIV is a sexually transmitted disease that can be blocked by condoms HIV antibody test is licensed and blood supply screening begins Indiana teenager Ryan White, infected through blood transfusions, prohibited from attending school Movie star Rock Hudson announces he has AIDS
1986	U.S. Statistics: 42,255 cases - 24,669 dead CDC classifies the virus that causes AIDS as “Human Immunodeficiency Virus” – HIV Syracusan Ralf Bernecker participates in the first AIDS drug clinical trial from 1986 - 1992 U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop calls for AIDS education for children and widespread use of condoms ATFCNY establishes Support Services Department
1987	U.S. Statistics: 71,176 cases - 41,027 dead AIDS Memorial Quilt displayed for the first time in Washington, D.C. First AIDS drug - AZT - cleared by FDA ATFCNY initiates “Buddy Program” linking volunteers one-to-one with infected individuals ATFCNY hires Health Educator, launches “safer sex” program
1988	U.S. Statistics: 106,994 cases - 62,101 dead Global Statistics: 5 million cases December 1 ~ Syracuse Mayor Thomas Young proclaims local observance of first-ever global World AIDS Day ATFCNY moves into new office space at 627 West Genesee Street, Syracuse Jan Simpson-Clement hired as Executive Director of ATFCNY Surgeon General Koop mails AIDS information brochure to every U.S. household
1989	U.S. Statistics: 149,902 cases - 89,817 dead ATFCNY incorporates, separates from SUNY Research Foundation Michael Crinnin is named Executive Director of ATFCNY U.S. Congress creates the National Commission on AIDS New York State passes an AIDS confidentiality bill ATFCNY serving 103 clients
1990	U.S. Statistics: 198,466 cases - 121,255 dead Global Statistics: 10 million cases Ryan White dies; Congress passes Ryan White CARE Act ATFCNY accepted as an Onondaga County United Way agency Two panels of the AIDS Quilt displayed in Syracuse ATFCNY’s first fundraiser, “Dining for Dollars,” nets $13,000 FDA approves AZT for pediatric use
1991	U.S. Statistics: 257,750 cases - 157,637 dead Red Ribbon becomes international symbol of AIDS awareness Basketball star “Magic” Johnson announces he has HIV, prompting major AIDS awareness in Black communities ATFCNY establishes outstation offices in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties ATFCNY receives the Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Citation Volunteer-driven client “No Hitch” luncheons begin
1992	U.S. Statistics: 338,696 cases - 200,210 dead ACR initiates Teen AIDS Task Force (TATF) HIV prevention program in regional high schools ATFCNY HIV educators begin work in prisons CDC expands scope of AIDS definition to include women African-American tennis star Arthur Ashe reveals he has AIDS
1993	U.S. Statistics: 418,575 cases - 245,943 dead First ever Onondaga County AIDS Walk/Run raises $32,000 to support ACR services AZT is found to prevent mother-to-child transmission of AIDS Magic Johnson Foundation and Miller Brewing award TATF $30,000 ATFCNY opens office in Mohawk Valley ATFCNY volunteers bring 504 AIDS Quilt panels to Syracuse
1994	U.S. Statistics: 491,661 cases - 296,600 dead April 7 ~ ATFCNY changes its name to AIDS Community Resources (ACR) Tom Hanks wins Oscar for his role as a man with AIDS in “Philadelphia” Holiday Angel program to support clients at Christmas begins TATF has chapters in 37 high schools throughout ACR’s nine-county service area
1995	U.S. Statistics: 561,645 cases - 348,014 dead ACR lobbies for Onondaga County Needle Exchange Program; politics prevented it from being established FDA approves HAART – Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy – a “cocktail” of drugs that slows progression of HIV to AIDS June 27 ~ first ever National HIV Testing Day inaugurated AIDS Quilt panels displayed in Utica
1996	U.S. Statistics: 622,769 cases - 386,088 dead Global Statistics: 20 million cases HAART therapy shows promise, prompting speculation in Newsweek that the end of AIDS is near HIV counseling and testing starts at ACR Syracuse office United Way of Greater Utica funds ACR for the first time AIDS Community Resources establishes an outstation office in Auburn, NY
1997	U.S. Statistics: 672,148 cases - 407,934 dead Teen AIDS Task Force receives first ever AIDS Institute Dr. David E. Rogers HIV Prevention Award ACR begins Spanish HIV prevention programs GRADS Project targets support services to MSM 5th Annual AIDS Walk/Run raises $68,000 for youth services and emergency client needs
1998	U.S. Statistics: 715,373 cases - 426,939 dead ACR gets grants to expand GRADS, Transportation, Treatment Adherence and Mental Health services ACR assumes sponsorship of the Lesbian and Gay Youth Alliance support groups, Q Center forerunner World Health Organization proclaims AIDS the world’s fastest-spreading epidemic SU researchers provide first detailed look at molecular structure of HIV
1999	U.S. Statistics: 756,729 cases - 445,430 dead Safety First Outreach initiative to reach injection drug users begins First ever AIDS Hike for Life at Hamilton College in the Mohawk Valley “Friends of AIDS Community Resources” hosts first ever “A Time to Remember” event in the Mohawk Valley AIDS is the fifth-leading cause of death for persons aged 25-44
2000	U.S. Statistics: 796,242 cases - 462,569 dead ACR hosts teen Zimbabwean peer educators for Hands Across the Globe, a cross-cultural event on HIV prevention Safety First Health Outreach obtains first van for HIV counseling and testing in Syracuse First ever Heart-to-Heart Tennis Event First ever First Frost AIDS Walk in Watertown raises $8,000 February 7 is named first National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
2001	U.S. Statistics: 835,448 cases - 480,180 dead ACR begins H.O.P.E Alliance, a prevention project targeted to African American and Latino communities ACR obtains second Safety First Outreach van for Mohawk Valley United Way of Northern New York funds Teen AIDS Task Force United Way of Greater Utica funds project for LGBTQ youth ACR implements HOPWA; provides safe housing for persons living with AIDS
2002	U.S. Statistics: 875,715 cases - 497,724 dead Global Statistics: 30 million cases ACR premiers Web site: www.aidscommunityresources.com ACR launches its SISTA peer education program for women of color OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 test approved by FDA 50% of adults living with HIV/AIDS worldwide are women ACR adds Recovery Readiness Counseling Services
2003	U.S. Statistics: 917,546 cases - 515,573 dead October 1 ~ First National Latino AIDS Awareness Day ACR produces HIV/STD prevention brochures for Bosnian immigrants in the Mohawk Valley AIDS Community Resources celebrates 20th anniversary ACR implements a new logo symbolizing life, hope, promise, and an emphasis on living with HIV
2004	U.S. Statistics: 956,580 cases - 531,371 dead The OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 antibody test is approved by FDA for use with oral fluids 15th International AIDS Conference is held in Bangkok, Thailand, the first in Southeast Asia 5th Annual First Frost AIDS Walk raises $17,000 in the North Country ACR’s SISTA program hosts its First Ladies Empowerment Brunch for women of color Teen AIDS Task Force acquires its first middle school chapter in Moravia
2005	U.S. Statistics: 984,115 cases - 550,394 dead ACR Spokes bicycling team joins and benefits from the 560-mile Empire State AIDS Ride 13th Annual AIDS Walk/Run at Beaver Lake Nature Center raises $83,000 The HIV Testing Program at Onondaga Community College is considered for placement in the other 63 SUNY campuses May 19 ~ 1st National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
2006	Global Statistics: 32.7 million cases - 2.1 million dead “Hands Up!” mural goes up on the wall of the Q Center ACR receives “member item grant” from Joan Christensen, RoAnn Desito and Bill Magnarelli, to connect all 6 offices to one databank June 5 ~ ACR commemorates “25 years of AIDS” Power Federal Credit Union becomes Title Sponsor of ACR events
2007	Global Statistics: 33.2 million cases - 2.2 million dead AIDS Community Resources publishes calendar featuring HIV+ individuals AIDS Community Resources officially opens Q Center for LGBTQ youth aged 13-22 March 21 ~ First National Natives HIV/AIDS Awareness Day ACR pairs with Syracuse University and creates six television public service announcements promoting condom use
2008	CDC reports 56,300 new HIV infections annually ACR begins a voucher syringe exchange program with help of Harvey’s Pharmacy ACR begins testing for STDs New Safety First Outreach van purchased with a grant from MAC Cosmetics “All Equal under the Sun” mural goes up at the Q Center 16th annual AIDS Walk/Run raises $201,000 New York State cuts funding for AIDS agencies like ACR for the first time ever

The First Frost AIDS Walk/Run is a program of AIDS Community Resources
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