Telluride AIDS Benefit: Announcing Student HIV Awareness Project”

17 Jul Telluride AIDS Benefit: Announcing Student HIV Awareness Project”

The Telluride AIDS Benefit (TAB) announces the launch of its Student HIV Awareness Project on August 13-15, 2024, now in its fifth year.

Go here for more on TAB’s history.

Engaging 20+ local high school juniors and seniors, the Student HIV Awareness Project educates about HIV and public health on the Western Slope. That work is done through partnerships with TAB’s frontline organizations like St. Mary’s Hospital and Colorado Health Network. These same students will take on the production of the Student Fashion Show benefit in February 2025.

TAB has entered a capital campaign titled “Runway to Legacy.” The new office facilitates staff operations, outreach, and events. TAB’s capital campaign holds particular significance in a town where limited inventory and high rent costs pose particular challenges to nonprofit organizations. Securing new office space not only enhances operational efficiency, but also underscores TAB’s commitment to community presence and outreach. The campaign supports ongoing efforts to combat HIV by strengthening local infrastructure and expanding outreach capabilities. By investing in these initiatives, TAB not only addresses immediate needs, but also fosters long-term sustainability and community.

This strategic investment ensures TAB’s continued impact in Telluride’s dynamic landscape, advancing both HIV prevention and cultural enrichment through Fashion Week for years to come. The capital campaign will secure TAB’s debt-free future and legacy in the culture arts core of Telluride, critical in a town where rising rent costs threaten all nonprofits.

In other news, Cynthia Sommers, longtime board member and model, assumes the role of TAB’s new Board President, with Shannon Westveer as Vice President. Outgoing President Sarah Gluckstern remains an active board member.

For over 30 years, TAB’s Telluride Fashion Week has supported HIV eradication through innovative fashion shows, education and events. It engages 200+ volunteers as models and staff, supports artists and directors, students and health partnerships. TAB continues to offer free HIV testing locally, regionally, and across Colorado, partnering to prevent HIV spread and combat stigma, particularly among youth aged 13-24, which have some of the fastest rates of infection.

A community staple, TAB enhances Telluride’s cultural vitality while tackling the persistent HIV pandemic and educational gaps.