Vivent Health is celebrating 40 years of work fighting the HIV epidemic in Wisconsin, marking four decades of transformation in response to the AIDS crisis. The organization hosted a sold-out Make a Promise gala on April 10 at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee to commemorate the milestone. Vivent Health has become a model for HIV care nationwide through its integrated care approach that combines medical services with comprehensive support services.
The organization has achieved remarkable HIV outcomes in Wisconsin. In the mid-1990s, there were roughly 600 new diagnoses statewide annually; that number has now dropped to approximately 200. Currently, 80 percent of people living with HIV in Wisconsin are connected to Vivent Health’s services. This has resulted in viral suppression rates above national averages, enabling people living with HIV to live long and healthy lives. Vivent President and CEO Brandon Hill explained that the integrated model encompasses “food service, food pantry, legal assistance, housing assistance” working directly alongside “doctors, dentists, nurses, behavioral health specialists, psychiatrists, and pharmacists” as one coordinated team.
Looking Ahead to Prevention and Sustainability
Hill emphasized that “prevention holds the key to helping us finish the epidemic,” noting ongoing threats and uncertainties that could potentially set back progress. The organization remains committed to preventing further losses in momentum. The annual gala tradition dates back to 1986, when a group of gay men hosted a dinner party in a Milwaukee-area home to raise funds for HIV/AIDS work. That original promise to return the following year with more participants and greater fundraising has continued for four decades. The goal remains to repeat the annual dinner until a cure for AIDS is found, with Vivent Health accepting donations and volunteer support for continued efforts.
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