Volunteers of America Bay Area Partners with Sister Southeast Local Office to Aid Victims of Haiti Earthquake

Oakland, CA (January 15, 2010) – The recent 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti is estimated to affect over three million people in and around the capital of Port-au-Prince. Haitian officials estimate that thousands of people, including scores of aid workers, have lost their lives. A state of emergency has been declared and there is an immediate and urgent need for victims in the aftermath of the quake. 

In coordination with its sister office, Volunteers of America Southeast, Volunteers of America Bay Area is working hard to provide aid directly to those in need.  “Through a network of faith-based and non-profit partnerships on the ground, we are working together to ensure that aid arrives at its intended destination - the victims of the quake in Haiti,” says Volunteers of America Bay Area CEO, John R. Bailey. 

The most expedient method for those from the San Francisco Bay Area to help now is through monetary contributions. Please donate online through by visiting our sister office’s website at www.voase.org  100% of all donations will be used to directly aid victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti.  More information on the developments in Haiti can also be obtained by visiting www.voafaithlinks.org 

About Volunteers of America Bay Area

Volunteers of America Bay Area is an affiliate of Volunteers of America, Inc., a national, non-profit, spiritually based organization that works locally in communities to help the most vulnerable and under-served people achieve their full potential. 

Volunteers of America Bay Area Health Services Wins World AIDS Day Award

Oakland – California

On Dec. 1, 2009, World AIDS Day, the Alameda County Public Health Department, Office of AIDS Administration awarded the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education Award to Ms. Sharyn Grayson, Manager of the Volunteers of America Bay Area Health Services Program. 

The award is given to a highly respected member of the HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention community to honor their work in the prevention and education of the spread of HIV/AIDS.  Grayson, who has worked diligently in the HIV/AIDS community since 1985, is being recognized for her outstanding service, leadership and advocacy in the community around prevention and education for HIV/AIDS. 

Grayson serves as a board member on Alameda County Planning Body which makes recommendations on funding for Ryan White dollar allocations.  She has served on the People Living With HIV/AIDS Committee since 2007 and is its current Chair.  Since 2008, Grayson also serves with the California Health and Planning Group a consortium of service providers and academics in the HIV/AIDS field. 

Grayson and the Health Services Program at Volunteers of America Bay Area, help to reduce the viral load in the community by reducing the number of individuals that are unaware of their infection through a 20 minute rapid results test, and then help to counsel clients through a positive result.  The program staff then refer clients for treatment and continue to educate and counsel clients with a positive result to prevent the further spread of the disease.  The Health Services Program serves an average of 1,700 unduplicated clients per year. 

Volunteers of America Inc. ranked among top 2009 non-profits by The NonProfit Times and The Chronicle of Philanthropy

The NonProfit Times ranked Volunteers of America Inc. #19 out of the top 100 nonprofit organizations of 2009 in the nation based on revenues.  Volunteers of America Inc. was also ranked as part of The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s 2009 annual Philanthropy 400 list, and ranked 221 out of 400 in over-all standings.