AIDS Care Ocean State (ACOS) is pleased to welcome Stephen Hogan Jr. as the new Director of Development & Public Relations who will be working on communications, development, fundraising events, public relations, donor relations and volunteer coordination.

Hogan comes to ACOS with more than 17 years of experience working in development, fundraising, operations and organizational management. He has worked mostly with non-profit organization in the area including Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP), Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC), Community Action Partnership of Providence (CAPP) as well as AIDS Project RI where he served as the Development Director for three years.

Hogan is very committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS and he wants to put some “much-needed energy” back into the cause. “We need to breathe life back into the HIV/AIDS movement,” Hogan said. “Just because people are living longer with this disease and we [as a community] have become complacent, does not mean that it is not still a problem or issue today.”

He is also very excited about the opportunities ahead with the programs, projects and services offered by ACOS. “I am proud to be working at the largest HIV/AIDS organization in Rhode Island and I believe that my position as director of development and public relations is a vital role in keeping services available to those in need and helping with education of the community.”

The funding sources for ACOS continue to be slashed every year and there are gaps that need to be filled so these important services can continue. “We must look to new corporate donors, grants, new and current individual donors as well as new funding streams,” Hogan exclaimed. “Events can only provide so much money and that doesn’t bridge all the gaps that we are experiencing, but somehow, we continue to provide the necessary care and services our clients need. ”

ACOS is dedicated to providing advocacy, quality housing, case management, mental health, medical and nursing care, and prevention services to adults, families, adolescents and children who are affected by or at risk for HIV infection.