Group’s founder exits on high note

AIDS Services Foundation’s 20th annual Splash fundraiser last weekend

exceeded expectations, raising about $500,000.

While “Splashback to the Starlite Drive-In” was making big noise,

Al Roberts, AIDS Services Foundation co-founder and board president

since its inception in 1985, quietly stepped down as president,

announcing the news in a letter in the show’s program.

In his usual manner, Roberts worked hard behind the scenes, not

wanting to draw attention to himself, keeping the focus on the cause

of helping men, women and children living with or affected by HIV or

AIDS.

“This was the first time I announced it publicly,” Roberts said.

The board was told about a month and a half ago.

“Twenty seems to be a golden thing, a certain age. I realized I’m

not going to be able do this forever,” Roberts said. “We’ve started

training other people to do it. It’s very unusual that a person stays

president for 20 years.”

Roberts said adding some new blood will be good. He promises a

smooth transition.

“I’m not going anywhere; I’m still going to be there and be just

as active,” Roberts said.

“When I get letters from somebody’s mom, someone from Wisconsin or

somewhere whose child passed away, thanking AIDS Services Foundation

for what we’ve done -- those to me are the highlights,” Roberts said.

“The donors are definitely a highlight; they keep giving, giving

and giving every year, even after 20 years,” Roberts said. “It makes

you realize the goodness of people. It’s very satisfying.”

It hasn’t always been easy for AIDS Services Foundation. The

nonprofit organization was asked to leave two separate office

locations.

“People didn’t want AIDS around,” Roberts said.

It was his last Splash event as president, and he couldn’t have

been more pleased with the results. The event sold out.

“Splash went absolutely incredible from a monetary standpoint,”

Roberts said.

He said he loves the live auction. Excitement mounted when a

donated new Harley Davidson XL Sportster 883 went above its value to

$17,000 as local glass artist John Barber generously outbid others.

Barber also donated works for the silent auction.

“I get the biggest bang out of the live auction; it’s so dramatic

and competitive,” said co-founder, board member and event chairman

Ken Jillson. “My goal was $400,000, and we did nearly $500,000....

People are really contributing to help people with AIDS. The bottom

line of the auction is people’s hearts.”

The live auction raised $41,000.

AIDS Services Foundation Executive Director Alan Witchey said

Roberts has done an amazing job for 20 years.

“Al is the kind of person who is not afraid of a challenge,”

Witchey said. “When he saw that people were in need, he pulled a

group of friends together to raise money to start this agency. It

wouldn’t be here without him.”

Witchey said the board wanted to honor Roberts.

“For me the exciting thing is the board made Al the founding

president, which is a permanent position on the board,” Witchey said.

“While other board members will have term limits, he will not.”

Roberts is saddened that over the last two decades a lot still

needs to be done in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“I’m very disappointed that there’s not a cure,” Roberts said. “I

was so disappointed to read in a newspaper the other day that a woman

let her 3-year-old child die because she didn’t believe HIV turns

into AIDS. There’s a whole group who believe this.”

Roberts said 40,000 people a year are becoming infected.

“It just keeps going on. It’s been a long, long haul we’ve gone

through,” Roberts said.

Information: (949) 809-5700 or o7www.ocasf.org.

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