Your Generosity Can Make a Difference
As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to join us in supporting individuals living with HIV through the inspiring story of Jesse. This remarkable man embodies resilience and hope, illustrating the profound impact your contributions can have.
Meet Jesse
Jesse’s life has been dedicated to helping others. However, his path has not been easy. At just 14, he was abandoned by his adoptive family when they learned he was gay, leading to years spent in state-run institutions where he faced rampant abuse.
At 18, Jesse escaped this traumatic life and found himself on the streets of Portland, where he turned to sex work to survive, struggling with meth addiction and ultimately acquiring HIV. Yet, Jesse's story is one of transformation.
When he was 30, Jesse connected with Cascade AIDS Project. CAP provided essential support—helping cover food costs, providing bus tickets, and occasionally assisting with rent. More importantly, the staff treated him with dignity and respect, offering a connection to a different life.
A pivotal moment came when Jesse turned 40 and was ready to make a change. Jesse convinced CAP to offer him his first job as a housing case manager, where he effectively assisted over 100 individuals like himself in finding housing and reclaiming their lives. Jesse dedicated seven transformative years to CAP, changing lives while his own continued to evolve.
How You Can Help
Today, we need your help to continue providing vital services like HIV testing, access to PrEP, and housing assistance for those in need.
Your donations to Cascade AIDS Project directly impact lives like Jesse’s, ensuring that we can expand our reach and support even more individuals facing similar struggles. Your contribution, no matter the size, can create lasting change for those who have faced unimaginable challenges. Together, we can ensure that more individuals like Jesse find the support they need to thrive.
Discover Jesse’s Journey
In addition to your generous support, we encourage you to explore Jesse’s incredible life story by purchasing his book, You Can't Get Rid of Me, co-written with former CAP colleague Keri Ault. Through this powerful narrative, you’ll gain insight into Jesse’s experiences and the resilience that defines his life.