Staff

Our Officers

Mrs. Trish Cloud

Mrs. Dawn Orr

Ms. Sharon Ewell Foster

Our Founder

Patricia Hickman

Patricia Hickman is a southern novelist who, along with her daughter Jessi, started the SAP as a gift drive for local children affected by AIDS. Jessi died the following year in an auto accident. Over time, and while overcoming heartbreaking loss, the growing AIDS crisis compelled Patricia and the moms who worked alongside her to continue her work by mobilizing a local volunteer base that’s sole purpose was to offer service and assistance to local infectious diseases’ healthcare professionals and their clients. She believed eventually the AIDS crisis in America would pass and the SAP would take on other good works. But instead the crisis has increased and is reaching epidemic levels.

Patricia grew up in a tough southern neighborhood, married young, and then struggled to battle her way out of the stigma and low expectations of growing up in a poor and abusive family. She sought advice and coaching through mentors and was finally published in 1993, signing a multi-book publishing deal. An advocate for continuing education, she returned to college at Queens University earning an M.F.A. in creative writing. She has written over fifteen novels for major publications such as Random House and Hachette Books. She has taught writing at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She currently teaches writing in workshops around the country and has been interviewed through countless broadcast media sources. She speaks to women’s groups teaching from her life experiences.

Schedule Patricia for broadcast or other media interviews.

Schedule Patricia for an event.