Our Purpose & Our Story

Our Purpose

As its mission, Shanti Orange County strives to preserve the dignity and well-being of individuals living with HIV and AIDS by providing life-enhancing supportive services, education and psychological care.

Our Story

Begun in 1987 as a nearly all-volunteer organization, Shanti Orange County, formally Laguna Shanti, originally provided counseling and support to those in our community dying of AIDS. We sought to create a safe place where people could feel welcome and valued while fighting death, despair and isolation as the AIDS pandemic grew. Since that time, the nature of HIV/AIDS and its treatment has changed dramatically. As a result, Shanti Orange County has grown and evolved. No longer solely a mission to comfort the dying, for the past several years we have been committed to HIV/AIDS prevention and education and to helping HIV positive individuals live as fully as possible, despite their diagnoses.

Shanti Orange County now serves all of Orange County and works collaboratively with many physicians, social services agencies and health care providers throughout the area. Among our staff and volunteers we stress the need to demonstrate empathy and sympathy for individuals affected by HIV and AIDS; be proactive in engaging our supporters and stakeholders; educate the community on the progression of HIV disease; and remain in the forefront of the response to the AIDS pandemic.

Shanti helps more than 1,200 men, women, and families in Orange County infected or affected by HIV disease each year. Services include case management, home delivered meals, transportation, individuals and couples counseling, therapy groups, support groups and HIV education and prevention services.

We are proud to report that 89 percent of Shanti Orange County’s annual budget goes directly toward running our programs.