During the 2017 HIV/STD Update in Indianapolis on May 19th,  2017, Paula French with Step-Up, Inc. and Foundations Family Medicine were awarded the individual and organizational 2017 Vanguard Awards, respectively, for their extraordinary work in improving HIV care in Indiana.

Paula French has been serving the HIV community for nearly 25 years, first as a volunteer and later as the co-founder of Step-Up, Inc. She has shown a strong dedication to developing, growing, and guiding programming aimed at serving those at-risk for and living with HIV. Thanks to Ms. French and the programs she has developed, countless people have been given the skills and knowledge that have afforded them a second chance at life.

Foundations Family Medicine was established in 2004 to provide comprehensive primary care in the small, resources-poor city of Austin, Indiana. By late 2015, this organization found themselves at the center of an unprecedented HIV outbreak. They responded by opening their doors to the community and they have kept those doors open ever since. Today, this organization finds itself providing critical access to HIV care, Hepatitis C treatment, and HIV prevention services – in addition to comprehensive primary care services. They strive to ensure that marginalized and stigmatized members of their community feel safe and welcome.

Congratulations to our winners of the 2017 Vanguard Award!