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The Pfizer Foundation developed the Southern HIV/AIDS Prevention Initiative (SHAPI) to respond to the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S. South. The Southern HIV/AIDS Prevention Initiative sought to decrease and stabilize the impact of HIV/AIDS in three vital ways:
- By supporting culturally appropriate prevention (primary and secondary) and education programs.
- By strengthening the capacity of community-based organizations to provide these programs and to be sustainable over the long-term.
- By building a regional network of organizations serving disadvantaged, multicultural communities in the South.
Participating organizations were small to mid-size nonprofit organizations in multicultural rural and urban communities. The Southern HIV/AIDS Prevention Initiative supported these organizations, initially including twenty-four grantee organizations and an additional 39 finalist organizations, over three years (2004 - 2006) with $3 million in program investments and approximately $3 million in capacity-building investments.
After three years of intensive grant and capacity building support, the majority of Southern HIV/AIDS Prevention Initiative grantees have demonstrated:
- Stronger programs and organizational capacity, including significant improvements in program evaluation skills and technology
- Stronger networks with local and regional AIDS service organizations; beyond the Initiative, 18 grantees and finalists will work together on collaborative projects in 2007
- Stronger abilities to leverage resources; SHAPI grantees leveraged approximately an additional $1m in resources over the course of the Initiative
In addition, the social impact of the Initiative has been significant. More than 1,000 individuals were trained as a peer educator or peer mentor, 3,000 individuals were provided with testing and/or counseling, more than 11,000 referrals were made, and more than 50,000 community members have been reached with prevention materials.
By supporting innovative HIV/AIDS prevention programs, SHAPI aimed to strengthen communities by reducing or stabilizing HIV/AIDS incidences. By strengthening the capacity of the nonprofit organizations, SHAPI aimed to ensure the longer-term sustainability of its grantees and their successful HIV/AIDS prevention programs. In this way, the legacy of SHAPI hopes to continue to impact SHAPI communities for years to come.
"Without a doubt, we are now able to better deliver effective and higher quality services to our clients. This in turn helps us to better accomplish our mission."
- GA Grantee
"Long after Pfizer's funding relationship with [us] has concluded, the skills and expertise culled from these capacity-building efforts will continue to make [us] a trusted and well-respected organization."
- NC Grantee
"Pfizer has gone so far above and beyond to provide its grantees with support and resources that are more valuable than money."
- Anonymous Grantee
"A young woman who attended a plática began to make follow up calls to our Outreach Worker due to questions she had about her health. She was exhibiting some symptoms of an STD and was worried because she was in her first trimester of her second pregnancy. She had not realized what she was experiencing might be an STD until she had attended a plática. Our Outreach Worker provided her some individualized support that got her to a seek testing at a local clinic. Unfortunately at the clinic she not only tested positive for an STD, but also tested positive for HIV. She was immediately referred to the women's support group at Mujeres and to the Madrina (Godmother) project for self-advocacy and education. She also brought two of her sisters to attend the training which uses a peer-based model. With this continued support she was able to seek the medical attention she needed, even when her lifelong OB/GYN dropped her from his practice because of her HIV status. She began treatment shortly after her diagnosis and continued for the rest of her pregnancy and delivered a healthy baby boy. Although she was sure she was in a monogamous relationship, her partner actually knew he was HIV positive while they were together but had not sought any treatment or disclosed his status. The Plática Project is essential for Latinas and is critical in the whole continuum of care for Latinas and their ability to be linked with services offered by Mujeres. This includes support for the woman living with HIV/AIDS or for anyone in her family that is directly impacted. Had it not been for the Pfizer Foundation funding granted to Mujeres for the delivery of pláticas, this young woman would not have participated in a plática and might still be walking around today without knowledge of her HIV status and without being linked to care."
- TX Grantee
"When JASMYN faced an organizational crisis regarding program integrity over the summer of 2006, the staff, board, youth clientele and community stakeholders were able to sustain and grow beyond the crisis and become stronger as an organization. This internal sustainability was a direct result of the capacity building efforts JASMYN participated in through SHAPI. The board and staff leadership understood their roles and how to hold fast to the organization's values. The culture of JASMYN (of being open, innovative, and a learning organization) was already strengthened by the SHAPI capacity building and was able to hold fast to the core. Resources, such as consultants and access to information and professionals, were available and assisted JASMYN in weathering a storm, and coming through it with positive changes."
- FL Grantee
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