SAAF - Cherise's Birthday Wish

I spent decades fighting outbreaks, tracking disease, and organizing neighborhoods. Then six years ago, I found where every skill I had learned comes together.

I am Dr. Cherise Rohr-Allegrini, CEO of the San Antonio AIDS Foundation (SAAF, /sāf/). Every day I lead a team that refuses to let stigma win. We do not just offer HIV testing and PrEP. We offer dignity. We teach without judgment. We know healing happens in the mind as much as the body. We treat with compassion. And we hold space for the LGBTQIA+ community to be exactly who they are.

HIV and STIs are still a crisis. But here is what I know after years in public health: a person diagnosed early can live a long, healthy life. The science is there. What we need is access and advocacy. That is what SAAF provides every single day, from mental health support to connecting people to treatment.

Now here is the personal part. My birthday is almost here. And I have been lucky enough to spend my entire 50s inside these walls, with these people, doing this work. I cannot imagine a better way to mark another year.

So here is my birthday wish. If you have ever wondered how to turn hope into action, this is it. Donate to SAAF during the Big Gay Give. Help us keep the doors open, the tests free, and the care compassionate. It would make this birthday the best one yet.

Your Donation in Action:

$50   1 HIV Test Kit + counseling 

$75 Night of housing/ support 

$100 per visit Client wellness visit 

$150 Prevention & education session