MILWAUKEE — Vivent Health will celebrate four decades on the front lines of the HIV epidemic this week as its annual Make A Promise Gala has officially sold out more than two weeks in advance, underscoring strong community support heading into a milestone year.

The gala, set for Friday, April 10 at The Pfister Hotel, will serve as the official kickoff of Vivent Health’s 40th anniversary. The event honors the legacy of the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) and the community that helped build one of the nation’s most effective models of HIV care.

Founded in 1986 at the height of the AIDS crisis, ARCW emerged as a grassroots response when few formal systems existed to support people living with HIV. That work continues today through Vivent Health, which provides comprehensive care aimed at helping people live long, healthy lives while working toward ending the HIV epidemic.

Over four decades, Wisconsin’s community-driven approach has evolved into a nationally recognized model. Vivent Health reports that its patients achieve viral suppression rates well above national averages — a reflection of a care model that extends beyond clinical treatment to address broader needs such as housing stability, food access, mental health services and financial support.

“Forty years in, this work is still about care, dignity, and showing up for people,” said Brandon Hill, Ph.D., president and CEO of Vivent Health. “This progress didn’t happen by chance. It happened because this community stepped up and built a model of care rooted in trust, dignity and real access. We are closer than ever to ending the HIV epidemic, but sustaining that progress will take the same level of commitment and community leadership that has carried this work for four decades.”

The Make A Promise Gala traces its roots back to a small Milwaukee dinner in 1986. It has since grown into one of the region’s most impactful annual fundraisers, with proceeds helping remove barriers to essential services for patients, including medication assistance, food programs and emergency financial support.

Honoring Leaders in the Fight Against HIV

Each year, the gala recognizes individuals and organizations whose leadership and advocacy have shaped the region’s response to HIV. This year’s honorees reflect decades of impact:

• Leadership Award: Doug Nelson, former executive director of ARCW (1988–2012), credited with building the organization into a national model for HIV care and services
• Philanthropy Award: Cream City Foundation and Greater Milwaukee Foundation, recognized for sustained financial support and community leadership
• Vision Award: BESTD Clinic, a longtime partner providing critical sexual health services, particularly for LGBTQ+ communities
• Courage Award: The late Paul Milakovich, remembered as an early ARCW leader and tireless advocate for people living with HIV

As Vivent Health marks 40 years, the sold-out gala signals not just a celebration of the past, but a renewed commitment to the future — one rooted in the same community-driven care that helped transform HIV from a crisis into a manageable condition for many, while continuing the work to end the epidemic altogether.