HIVictorious,
Inc. and OTP would
like to extend our
heartfelt thanks
to the Corvallis
Elks Charity Trust
and the Corvallis
Elks Lodge, for
sponsoring HIVictorious
in its mission of
youth HIV/AIDS prevention
and education. Due
to their generosity
and compassion,
HIVictorious will
extend its outreach
to the state of
Oregon.
Check our
calendar
for continuing updates
on speaking events,
fundraisers and
promotional spots.
I just want to say thank
you for all you are
doing!!! I saw your
site and I was so touched.
You are a wonderful
person and It's people
like you who make the
world go around. Take
care and stay strong.
a friend.....Tina
On
August 11, 2007, David and Maree Williams with
the blessing and generosity of the Corvallis
Elks Charity Trust, held a fundraiser to benefit
HIVictorious' mission of prevention and education
in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Thanks to their
tireless and compassionate efforts, HIVictorious
will be presenting at various schools, organizations,
colleges and universities throughout the state
of Oregon. The fundraiser served over 160 people
and provided HIV/AIDS awareness in the community.
Thank you to sports radio talk show host, Nate
Gorman for emceeing the evening. I am thrilled
to say that this was the first time I have been
able to present before my family. It was truly
an honor to have my sisters, aunts, uncle, cousins,
niece and nephew in attendance. Their support
throughout these many years and at this event
is wholeheartedly appreciated. The event was
also a wonderful way to bring many in the Corvallis
Community together for one common goal, to
fight
AIDS and build collaborations. Thank you to
the Valley AIDS Information Network (VAIN) and
the Benton County Health Department for their
generous support! I'm sincerely humbled by the
outpouring of support from the Corvallis Elks
Charity Trust, the Corvallis Elks Lodge, the
Lady Elks, Gary, Dennis, Myrle, Connie and MANY
others who for the first time, became passionate
voices and supporters in the fight against AIDS.
It was extremely rewarding to have Mr. Jess
Lewis as our keynote speaker. Mr. Lewis is an
amazing man with a remarkable and inspiring
story of turning tragedy into triumph. Thank
you Jess for your compassion and generosity
of spirit! HIVictorious was also able to give
talks at the Corvallis Community Outreach Center,
the Jackson Street Youth Shelter and the Corvallis
Elks Lodge fundraiser. I look forward to our
return in November of 2007 to present at state
colleges, universities, schools and organizations
in supporting awareness for World AIDS Day on
December 1st. Thank you will never be enough
for the generosity, compassion and commitment
of ALL of those involved in helping to broaden
our heartfelt message!
I'm
extremely grateful for
the media support we
received while in Oregon!
Thank you to the Corvallis
Gazette Times, KPNW
Radio in Eugene/Springfield
and KLOO Radio in Albany,
Oregon. I was also grateful
to present for the Corvallis
Community Outreach Center
and the Jackson Street
Youth Shelter. Thank
you to the folks at
Benton County Health
Department for attending
our fundraiser and for
all your support in
spreading the word for
HIVictorious. I look
forward to working with
you all again soon!
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported
the Corvallis Elks Charity Trust fundraiser!
"We are not lepers or indispensable; we are brothers,
sister, sons, daughters, parents, and yes, even
grandparents who for one reason or another were
infected with the AIDS virus. The “H” in HIV stands
for Human. If we can unite to end AIDS, we will
hopefully put right many other divisions that face
us as a world."
Speaker uses his
story to fight AIDS: Bob Bowers got it from a needle
23 years ago
By THERESA HOGUE
Gazette-Times reporter
When heavily tattooedBob Bowers shows up at a high
school and announces that his nickname is
Pirate,
he definitely gets attention from the teens he’s
talking to. He knows that his tough-guy appearance
wins him respect that a middle-aged guy in a suit
with a Powerpoint presentation won’t earn.
But the 44-year-old Bowers needs every ounce of
attention he can get, because he’s got a tough message
to get out. Bowers has been HIV-positive for 23
years, and has been trying to educate Americans
about HIV/AIDS ever since his own diagnosis in the
early 1980s.
On Saturday, he’ll come back to his home state to
speak in Corvallis at an HIV/AIDS awareness fund-raiser
dinner.
Bowers, who graduated from North Bend High School,
was 21 years old and living a hard-partying life
in Los Angeles when he started feeling sick. His
lymph nodes were swollen and he was fighting off
fatigue.
“I was doing drugs at the time, so it was hard to
tell the difference between being high or being
sick,” he said.
Bowers, who had used intravenous drugs, had heard
of AIDS but never considered that he was at risk.
A doctor’s diagnosis told him differently.
“I was clueless,” Bowers said. His doctor told him
to prepare for the worst. At the time, the diagnosis
was a death sentence. But fate, and medication,
kept him alive while more than 40 of his friends
died.
In 1999, when a close friend died from AIDS-related
illness, it was “the last straw,” Bowers said. He
began dedicating himself to public speaking.
“My biggest gift is not eloquence and big words,”
he said. “I’m extremely passionate. I live it, I
breathe it.”
Bowers has formed a non-profit organization called
HIVictorious, and spends most of his time traveling.
His presentation at the Corvallis HIV/AIDS Awareness
dinner is the first time he’s had a chance to speak
in his home state.
Bowers has been invited to speak by the Corvallis
Elks Lodge, where his uncle,
David Williams, is
a member. Williams said he’s been inspired by the
work his nephew has done. He’s also found himself
learning through Bowers’ experiences.
“I’ve had my eyes closed (to HIV/AIDS) for years,”
Williams said. But now he’s eager to help his nephew
with his message.
As for Bowers, he feels that he has helped change
lives.
“When you speak the truth you get people to a safe
place.”
Gorman for emceeing the evening. I am thrilled
to say that this was the first time I have been
able to present before my family. It was truly
an honor to have my sisters, aunts, uncle, cousins,
niece and nephew in attendance. Their support
throughout these many years and at this event
is wholeheartedly appreciated. The event was
also a wonderful way to bring many in the Corvallis
Community together for one common goal, to
