UPPER NYACK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Global Healthy Living Foundation today announced that Louis Tharp, executive director and co-founder, joined the board of trustees of AIDS United, a national organization devoted to ending the HIV epidemic in the U.S. through strategic grant-making, policy and advocacy, and capacity building.
“For twenty years, I’ve dedicated my professional and personal life to raising awareness and improving support for people living with serious and lifelong chronic diseases,” said Mr. Tharp. “It’s an honor and privilege to join the board of AIDS United, whose work has meaningfully advanced and improved the availability of community-driven responses to the HIV epidemic.”
AIDS United has granted over $120 million to organizations addressing HIV across the U.S. during its history including $8 million currently to over 250 grantees in 40 states and territories. AIDS United’s Public Policy Council made up of 55 of the nation’s leading HIV service and advocacy organizations just celebrated its 35th anniversary advocating for policies, programs and appropriations with Congress and the federal government.
After a career in business, Mr. Tharp became a social entrepreneur in 1999 when he co-founded CreakyJoints®, the digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers worldwide who seek education, support, activism, and patient-centered research. In 2007, CreakyJoints became part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), which he also co-founded and now serves as Executive Director. GHLF focuses on health policy, advocacy, research, education and patient support issues impacting people with all types of chronic disease.
“We could not be prouder to welcome Lou Tharp to AIDS United,” said Jesse Milan, Jr., President & CEO at AIDS United, “He combines outstanding not-for-profit business acumen and exceptional public health expertise with his personal passion for addressing health equity for underserved and stigmatized communities. As we confront issues of HIV and aging and HIV as a chronic disease, his experience building CreakyJoints and the Global Healthy Living Foundation will be immensely helpful.”
“Lou’s relentless passion to improve the quality of life for people living with chronic disease, including HIV, will directly translate into actionable ideas. AIDS United and the Global Healthy Living Foundation are better because of Lou’s dedication, strategic thinking, and compassion,” added Seth Ginsberg, president and co-founder of CreakyJoints and Global Healthy Living Foundation.
Mr. Tharp was the first out gay coach at the U.S. Military Academy, where he was the swim coach of the West Point Triathlon team. He published his second book, Overachiever’s Diary in 2007, recounting the West Point tri team’s rise to national prominence. Proceeds from book sales went to the West Point triathlon team. He is also a competitive open water and pool swimmer with 13 World Masters, Gay Games and OutGames gold, silver and bronze medals.
From 2003 to 2008, he served on the board of visitors for the College of Business at Butler University, Indianapolis, where he graduated with a B.S. and a B.A. in Journalism in 1972. He was Chairman of the Anti-Bias Commission, Rockland County, New York, from 1994-1996; Chairman of the Board of CANDLE, a Rockland County, New York, non-profit from 1994-1997; is a former member of the board of the Victory Fund, Washington, DC, the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation, and a current member of Knights Out, U.S. Military Academy. From 2012-2018 he accepted a position in the Obama administration serving on the Army Education Advisory Committee and was recognized for his service in the Congressional Record.
Louis and his husband, Jim Bumgardner, live in Upper Nyack, NY.
About AIDS United
AIDS United’s mission is to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. through strategic grant-making, capacity building, and policy. AIDS United works to ensure access to life-saving HIV care and prevention services and to advance sound HIV-related policy for U.S. populations and communities most impacted by the epidemic. To date, our strategic grant-making initiatives have directly funded more than $104 million to local communities and have leveraged more than $117 million in additional investments for programs that include, but are not limited to HIV prevention, access to care, capacity building, harm reduction and advocacy. www.aidsunited.org
About Global Healthy Living Foundation
The Global Healthy Living Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people living with chronic illnesses (such as arthritis, osteoporosis, migraine, psoriasis, and cardiovascular disease) by advocating for improved access to health care at the community, state, and federal levels, and amplifying education and awareness efforts within its social media framework. GHLF is also a staunch advocate for vaccines. The Global Healthy Living Foundation is the parent organization of CreakyJoints®, the digital arthritis community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers worldwide who seek education, support, activism, and patient-centered research through ArthritisPower®, the first-ever patient-centered research registry for joint, bone, and inflammatory skin conditions. Global Healthy Living Foundation recently launched PainSpot.org, a digital risk assessment tool for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. Visit www.GHLF.org for more information.
