Graham Bruton – Champion of Hope

Our first #40for40#ChampionOfHope is our founder and first President, Graham Bruton (1955-1993). In early 1982, Graham learned about what his friend and AIDS activist, Paul Popham, was facing as the NYC community began to respond to the first wave of the AIDS epidemic, and immediately offered to move to NYC to help. With immense foresight, Paul advised Graham to stay in Atlanta and get prepared to address the impending need in the city. As Graham gathered friends and associates in his living room on Briarcliff Road, they began to strategize and develop action plans to educate not only gay males, but also health care workers and other community members who would be impacted by AIDS. As a result of Graham’s vision and determination, AID Atlanta was born on November 12, 1982. Since then, AID Atlanta has grown to be one of the largest and most comprehensive AIDS service organizations in the Southeast. Graham was a visionary, a charismatic leader, and a beloved friend. He recognized the urgency of getting the word out about AIDS early in the epidemic and believed that, if you wanted something to happen, you did whatever was needed to make it so. That’s just who he was and what drove him.Sadly, we lost Graham on July 3, 1993, at just 38 years of age. He may have been only one person, but he exemplified what the power of one person can do. And, in the end, he saved thousands of lives. We are forever grateful for Graham’s legacy and lasting impact on the AID Atlanta family and the Greater Atlanta community. We look forward to continuing his legacy for another 40 years.To learn more about AID Atlanta and how you can support our work, visit aidatlanta.org today!#AIDATL#ATL#40for40#ChampionsofHope#stsophivtogether#stopthestigma#endtheepidemic#HIVawareness