24 years of giving

by Robin Dorner
Editor in Chief

More than 24 years ago, Jackie Cooper and his wife Barbara lost a son to AIDS. Soon after, they established the AIDS Care Fund and began hosting a ‘little’ fundraising event known as Red Tie Night. The event has grown into the largest event of the year in the Oklahoma HIV/AIDS community.

Sadly, just before Red Tie 2015, Jackie passed away; but his amazing legacy lives on. To date, the event has raised over $20 million for services directly related to HIV/AIDS in Oklahoma.

Co-hosts for the 2016 event were the Cooper’s descendants, daughter Cindy Cooper-Colton and grandson Graham Colton.

“My grandfather Jack always made sure everyone knew how important it was to provide these funds to our community and our state,” said Graham Colton in a statement Red Tie Night. “In his absence, my mom and I are bringing Red Tie Night full circle back to the Cooper family, continuing the work my grandparents started.

“The need for funding is still there – perhaps more than it was in the early days of the disease.”

Red Tie Night is the main fundraising event for the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund (OACF). The organization’s executive director, Cher Golding, said their mission is evolving and there is a greater need for services.

“Funding raised during Red Tie Night supports almost a dozen HIV/AIDS service providers and ensures they have the resources and tools needed for developing and maintaining their community-based initiatives.”

Additionally, “The Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund administers prevention and education programs that consistently keep HIV infection rates in Oklahoma below the national average.”

And every great event has its award. To honor one of the co-founders of the OACF, Richard May, the Richard May award was established after his death in 2000. The recipients exemplify strength and compassion, never seeking recognition, which was the spirit of Richard May.

This year’s award winner is Mary Arbuckle, Executive Director of Other Options and Friends Food Pantry (OOI). OOI was founded by Mary’s mother, Cookie Arbuckle in the early 80’s – the early days of HIV/AIDS – to meet the needs of PLWA’s (people living with AIDS).

Today, Other Options offers a variety of services including the Friends Food Pantry, HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS), a Humanitarian Medication Program and other services.

“What we can’t do alone we can do together,” is a statement Arbuckle often uses in correspondence. And it’s true; she has been remarkable at mobilizing volunteers within the community in organizing events and ‘making things happen.’

“My work is nothing less than what comes from my heart,” she said. “I am very determined in partnering with the community to provided care and support for people with HIV/AIDS.

“I treat my clients as if they are part of my family.”

For information about supporting OACF, visit www.okaidscarefund.com.

The Gayly - 4/9/2016 @ 2:55 p.m. CDT