A Message from the Chair of
the Board of Directors
The past fiscal year has been one of the most politically and economically
tumultuous in recent memory. As a result, Gay Men's Health Crisis
has found itself pulled in seemingly contradictory directions: needing
to be both frugal yet generous; cautious yet willing to take chances;
and concerned with the future while paying close attention to the
present. Heeding the demands of the people we serve, marking the
evolving trends of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, and understanding
the state of the political and financial climate — and its concurrent
impact on the availability of resources, both public and private
— is essential to the successful operation of any organization,
but perhaps even more so for GMHC, and especially right now.
 A
recent article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy cites a
study that says the percentage of Americans who have donated money
to a nonprofit organization during the last fiscal year has reached
its lowest level ever. The economic hardship being felt across the
country can certainly be blamed for this nationwide donor fatigue.
Yet, the same study goes on to suggest that the decline in giving
is less a direct result of a country in financial crisis than it
is the result of a pervasive lack of confidence in the effectiveness
of the nonprofit sector — a disbelief by donors in the impact their
charitable giving will actually have on the lives of the people
served.
As Chair of the Board of Directors, I am privileged to witness
first-hand the very real impact private support has on the lives
of the men, women, and children we serve. Every person listed in
the back of this Annual Report, and tens of thousands more who have
made gifts of time and effort and money, have had a significant
tangible effect on the state of HIV and AIDS. From the standing-room-only
support groups we lead every day, to the operating-at-capacity Meals
Program; from the legislation we lobby for on Capitol Hill to the
condoms we distribute in all five boroughs of New York City — GMHC's
impact is inextricably linked to — impossible to separate from,
in fact — the generous support of our donors.
My confidence in the expeditious and efficient transformation of
charitable giving into direct service and care is amplified by GMHC's
current state of fiscal stability. As an agency, we are debt-free
and infrastructurally sound. We have streamlined our delivery of
service, without compromising the quality or quantity of care. Our
renewed organizational strength coupled with the programmatic successes
outlined in this document, are ample evidence of GMHC's solid foundation,
passionate drive, and profound ability to continue in the fight
against HIV and AIDS.
William F. McCarthy
Chair, GMHC Board of Directors
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© 2003 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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