Vancouver Island Health Authority is our core funder. They have funded us s ince 1990 when they were the BC Ministry of Health HIV/AIDS Division. VIHA funding helps to support part of the daily operations of the society. Some of the daily operations include the Peer Support Program which offers a trained Peer Supporter available to offer assistance, information and support to those persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. This includes people living with HIV/AIDS, their partners, family members, children and their chosen support persons or care givers. VIHA also assists us with some of the Education initiatives that we provide to persons with HIV/AIDS, their families, members of the medical community, students and the general public. We provide information and education to specific target groups in order to promote prevention and harm reduction efforts throughout the community. Salt Spring Coffee Company has been a generous supporter of  Vancouver Island PWA Society since 1999. They donate to us all of the coffee used at our office whether it be for general administration, lounge supplies and meetings or socials and events. Salt Spring Island Coffee Company is a Fair Trade and completely Organic Coffee Company, priding themselves on supporting clean air and planetary conscience product development and merchandising initiatives. Salt Spring Island Coffee was awarded the 2007 Award for Best Fair Trade Coffee. For more information on this award go to;

The Main Corporate Supporter of this program is MAC Cosmetics through their MAC AIDS Fund. Our Food Certificate Program is a very popular program throughout our membership. For a variety of reasons many of our 569 members (updated March 08) access this program. A good percentage of our membership live on limited income and although the community food banks are a god send, they do not always have the necessary products that would meet the various dietary needs of someone living with a compromised immune system. Our Food Certificate Program assists those persons living with HIV/AIDS by offering unrestricted food certificates so that the person can make their own personal choices as to the purchases that they make. By supporting unrestricted gift cards we are able to allow our members to purchase vitamins and minerals, special protein supplements and other over the counter medications through the pharmacy, that they would otherwise need to pay cash for. Things such as gravol, polysporin, and Tylenol. Save-On Foods-Westside Village Victoria, BC Save-On Foods has been a wonderful supporter of VIPWAS for many years. Other than the generous support Save-On Foods has given our community and our organization over the years, there were other reasons why we decided to use Save-On Foods as our Food Program designate. Save-On Foods has a wide variety of products and services including a pharmacy, a large bulk foods section, fresh produce both local and organic, as well as all th e other amenities you would expect from your local food store. Our Food Certificate Program provides unrestricted gift cards to a number of it's 569 members (as of March 2008) throughout Vancouver Island. We feel this unrestricted component is a very compelling and important factor that most Food Subsidy Programs do not share. Many people living with HIV/AIDS are also living on a limited income. With the rising cost of foods, meeting daily nutritional and dietary requirements are not always easy. In addition, by having our Food Program unrestricted, members are able to purchase other products as well, including over the counter medications to assist with side effects of HIV meds, necessary vitamins and minerals, and other health related supplements. Although Food Banks are a god send in impoverished communities, they do not always have the necessary products available to assist with the dietary requirements of someone living with a compromised immune system. With the support of MAC Cosmetics and the assistance of Save-On Foods we are able to provide this vital service to many members and their families. We  have added Save-On Foods @ Westside Village location, Victoria, BC as a program supporter. A large part of the decision making process into which establishment to use was the amenities included. Save-On Foods as our store of choice, has always been a generous supporter of the community and our organization. They have an extensive market of fresh produce both imported and local, as well as a great selection of organic products. Within their facilities they also house a Pharmacy and Vitamin area. The Save-On Gift Cards we provide enables us to assist our members in purchasing the sometimes costly over the counter items, additional protein supplements, vitamins and minerals that they would otherwise need to go to a variety of stores for. TIDES (TIDES Canada Foundation ) TIDES Canada Foundation assists us with supporting education, information sessions and conference opportunities to our members. Through this we are able to continue to advocate for Medical Marijuana use for people living with HIV/AIDS in Canada. MAC Cosmetics (local) The local Vancouver Island retail businesses of MAC Cosmetics assist us at various times thorughout the year to make possible successful holiay camp[aigns for our children and familys. Last year MAC Cosmetics Victoria, at both sites in Victoria assisted us with a fundraising initiative during National AIDS Awareness Week from Novemebr 24th - December 1st, 2007 World AIDS Day. Later, that same month they assisted us with supporting our families with small children by helping us to provide much needed Christmas Hampers to 4 families that are living with HIV/AIDS. Special thanks go out to the Andrea of Mayfair Mall location and the Jamie and Lindsey of the Downtown BayCentre location.

PECSF - (Provincial Employees Community Service Fund) The Provincial Employees Community Service Fund has been a wonderfully compassionate and generous ongoing supporter of our organization and its PozAble Living Program since 2000. The PozAble Living Program provides members their partners and families an opportunity to take part in healthy lifestyle social activities. This program offers opportunities such as hiking, boating, nature walks, picnics, trips to museums, Whale Watching, Christmas Party's and special celebrations. PECSF has been an ongoing supporter for approx. 8 years as the sole supporter of the PozAble Living Program. They provide support for social activities for people living with HIV/AIDS in our community. Over the past few years, as the face of HIV/AIDS has changed, we are finding that more and more infected families are coming forward. While there are other organizations that help to support those living with HIV/AIDS, we are the only family and children friendly office on Vancouver Island. By this we ensure that all of our events and social outings are children friendly as well. Thank you to PECSF for their ongoing support for the PozAble Living Program and the only child friendly HIV/AIDS Program on all of Vancouver Island.  Sukhi Lalli has been a long time supporter of empowering persons with disabilities. He especially supportive of PWA. Sukhi has been available to VIPWAS for advice and support. Last year Sukhi found that we were struggling to put on an adequate Christmas Party for the increased membership we had experienced. He without a request jumped at the chance to assist us to offer a Christmas Dinner to our most grateful membership. Sukhi has a Pharmacy and Care Clinic on Yates St. in Victoria. The Lalli Care Clinic, at 1139 Yates St. Victoria, BC. He is open Mon - Fri 9am to 5:30pm offering a variety of health and wellness treatment options, as well as one on one private pharmaceutical consultations within his clients.