The 37th Annual Event of the Heart, which is the primary fundraiser for MCAVHN Care and Prevention Network takes place on Feb. 15 at the Barra of Mendocino Winery and Event Center.
The evening will begin with a champagne reception featuring Roederer sparkling wine and hors d'oeuvres, followed by a three-course buffet catered by Gabriel Schoonmaker. The dinner will include Barra wines, beer and alcohol-free beverages, an entrée choice of smoke-cured prime rib, rosemary chicken or a vegetarian option, and several sides including rice pilaf and baked potatoes, with a lemon-blueberry trifle for dessert. Guests will be treated to a live fire dance performance, a silent and live auction, and music, comedy and auctioneer services provided by DJ Jake Bernie.
MACAVHN has been a grassroots, frontline provider of services to individuals that have been historically marginalized or neglected by families, funders and even their own communities. Yet the impacts of ignoring the needs of those with illnesses such as Hepatitis C and HIV, or those with untreated mental health and substance use disorders affects every sector of our community- from healthcare, tourism, public safety and a community's fiscal bottom line.
The necessity for support of agencies like MCAVHN cannot be overstated. Statistics from the California Department of Public Health note that Mendocino County ranks among the top ten counties in California for rates of opioid abuse, prescription drug abuse and methamphetamine use. In 2022, the county's annual age-adjusted mortality rate was 54.91 per 100,000 residents- a staggering increase of 112 percent from 2020.
"In 2023, data released in local news media 2023 indicated that opioid deaths in our county have risen, placing Mendocino County at the forefront of the opioid crisis with the highest ranking per capita in the state, at 54.7 per 100,000," says Executive Director Joanna Olsen.
MCAVHN continues to be one of the county's sole providers of on-the-ground services, education, direct support and referrals, using Harm Reduction principles and the concept of "meeting people where they are." Last year, 1,587 individuals were served by MCAVHN in the greater Ukiah area, with 8,208 total encounters. Another 1,095 individual persons were served in areas outside of Ukiah.
Judy Popowski, Board Treasurer, CFO notes that the nonprofit was established in 1987.
"We started out working with individuals with AIDS and HIV. For a long time our efforts centered around things like helping people with rent when they were ill. We provided support and services because at that time, there were no other agencies willing to help with this population. We also sat at a lot of death beds, because frequently, people with AIDS were spurned by their families and the community," she explains.
Over the years, community needs changed, and the organization morphed to address those needs.
"As the AIDS epidemic ebbed, it drew attention to the needs of persons who use substances. Our focus turned to Harm Reduction, addressing the needs of persons with Hepatitis B and C," Olsen explains, adding that the Harm Reduction approach to service delivery has been adopted at the state, national and international level.
The scope of MCAVHN's services has continued to increase, with their syringe exchange program continuing unabated for over 20 years.
"MCAVHN is the only provider of Harm Reduction Syringe Services in the county, is one of the longest running syringe exchange programs in California. It is referred to as a 'model program' among our agency peers," Olsen notes. Not only does MCAVHN provide safe syringe exchange; they also routinely collect used syringes from collection boxes throughout the county and facilitate safe disposal through the Steri-Cycle program twice monthly.
Studies have concluded that safe syringe exchange programs help to reduce the prevalence of bloodborne pathogens in communities. "Needle exchange reduces community disease. We were recently told by Public Health that there has been an uptick in both Hep C and HIV. This probably correlates with the area's opioid overdose crisis," says Olsen. "When you have upticks of these diseases, you also have increased public health issues."
"In recent years, our community has benefitted from a wonderful partnership with Adventist Health, which provides our on-site Medicated Assisted Clinic program," Olsen continues. The program, headed up by Dr. Ace Barash offers medicated-assisted treatment for opioid and substance use disorders, testing, treatment and cure of Hepatitis C, and testing of and referral for treatment for Hepatitis B. The program also offers testing for HIV and referral for treatment and supportive care. "We also provide wound care, information and referral, case management and medical management of individual patients by physicians, in partnership with Adventist Health as well as linkage of patients to inpatient substance disorder recovery programs and rehabilitation services," Olsen continues.
"We are the county's largest distributor of Narcan and Naloxone," Olsen continues. Last year alone, MCAVHN distributed 5,882 Narcan kits and 1,300 Naloxone kits- both of which have the capacity to save the life of a person experiencing an opioid-related overdose.
Last year's Event of the Heart resulted in the purchase of a van that is providing mobile outreach services. "We now have regular, monthly routes from Covelo to Point Arena to Fort Bragg to Hopland," says Olsen. The van sets up at a variety of sites- from the Anderson Valley Health Center to local food banks, tribal centers or events, or out on the streets, where the community may access HIV, Hep B and Hep C testing.
It is difficult to imagine that even in 2025, organizations like MCAVHN still encounter community members who do not understand who they are and what they do.
"One misnomer we encounter is that we only serve very low-income or unhoused people," says Olsen. "We definitely serve a full cross-section of our community. All of our clients are served privately. We serve and support people from our working world. We have clients with Hep C that are housed, working parents. We have clients with substance use disorders from every sector of our community. These days, I believe most families have had an experience of someone in their circle who has or is using substances." Olsen believes more understanding is growing about the simple fact that addiction knows no income boundaries. "Because we have such a high rate of overdoses in our county, we must continue to try and reduce the stigma about using substances. This is where we connect people to recovery services. This is why we are committed to providing prevention education programs in schools and throughout the community, which provide a focus on supportive, healthy choices."
Additionally, MCAVHN works with the jail system to support people with re-entry services such as entering a recovery program or accessing job training. MCAVHN is also a site for community service workers, some of whom have been such a good fit they've ended up being hired.
"When someone enters our courtyard, the first thing we do is say hello and ask if they have been helped," says Olsen. "Our objective is to make people feel comfortable. Our courtyard is a friendly, warm space in winter and a cool place in summer. We want people who stop by to get a cup of coffee or water to feel that they've found a little sanctuary. We never know the range of people's emotions when they arrive. When we greet people, we're calm, consistent and never judgmental. We're building trusting relationships."
A majority of MCAVHN's funding begins at the federal level and trickles down to the organization through grants. This year proceeds from the Event of the Heart will be allocated toward protecting the program's essential services. "We are hearing that one of our funding sources plans to reduce opioid settlement funding by 60 percent. It is difficult to imagine losing 60 percent of your funding stream, and that's just one source of our funding," Olsen stresses. "This is what makes this year's Event of the Heart extra-important."
"Our Live and Silent Auctions auctions are looking really fun," smiles Popowski. "Mendocino College Culinary Instructor Nicholas Petty will be offering a meal experience in a person's home. We have a sunset airplane flight touring the Mendocino County region, a stay at the beautiful Elk Cove Inn, a package stay in Palm Springs and our own staff is once again going to offer a very intimate, gourmet dinner for 8 in the MCAVHN backyard which was a big hit last year." Other auction items include silk kimonos, rounds of golf, art, jewelry, landscaping and gravel deliveries, "lots of wine and pretty much everything and anything from community businesses and members," Popowski concludes.
"We always love to see new faces at our fundraiser," says Olsen. "Just as we have throughout our three decades of challenges, with the support of our community and our community partners, MCAVHN commits to helping reduce the crises of opioid misuse, hepatitis and HIV, as well as overdose deaths. We will continue to connect individuals to our harm reduction services- establishing relationships and building meaningful contacts, creating hope and personal efficacy with each and every contact we make."
The event begins at 5:30 PM. Barra of Mendocino Winery and Event Center is located at 7051 N. State Street in Redwood Valley. For ticket information visit https://mcavhn.org. Tickets may also be purchased at MCAVN office. Please call ahead at (707) 462-1932.