Dear Family, Friends, and Friendly Acquaintances,

Each year, my fundraising efforts are dedicated to my late partner, Sergio Anguiano, who died from AIDS in 1993 just before his 22nd birthday. Both of us were undergraduate students at UC Berkeley, and despite his never ending illnesses and frequent hospital stays, Sergio managed to graduate with top honors two weeks before his death. To this day, he is the most courageous person I've ever known.

And who knows? Perhaps if the shameful hate and discrimination against Sergio and others dying from AIDS hadn't resulted in neglect and inaction by our government for the first several years into the epidemic, he might have been saved by the life-saving treatments that became available three years after his death.

I participate in AIDS Walk San Francisco every year as a member of the National AIDS Memorial's team. For the past several years, we have been the top fundraisers! 80% of what we raise benefits programs of the National AIDS Memorial. 20% benefits other HIV/AIDS organizations providing prevention programs and direct services.

Through its iconic AIDS memorial's and programs, the National AIDS Memorial is committed to ensuring that the story of AIDS is known by future generations — so that we remember, in perpetuity, the lives lost, we offer healing and hope to survivors, and we inspire new generations of activists in the fight against stigma, denial, and hate, for a just future.

The persisting social injustices, racial and health inequities, homophobia, stigma, discrimination, fear, and bigotry — they continue to fuel the spread of HIV and the suffering of those devalued and marginalized in our society. After losing Sergio, a gay Hispanic young man, to AIDS while observing him experience society's indifference in real time — rectifying these injustices and fighting against that cruelty are what I am most passionate about today — nothing is more important to me.

I thank you, sincerely, for your time, and hope you will consider helping me reach my fundraising goal of $5,000 if you are able.

With gratitude,

Steve Sagaser
Senior Manager, Programs
National AIDS Memorial