While our founding agenda was focused primarily on HIV/AIDS medical care and prevention, through the years we have broadened our scope to include others in need in our underserved community. We now provide medical care and supportive services for poor, homeless, and uninsured people in our community. 

In 1992, Sonny Bartz knew he was dying. He had been diagnosed with AIDS in 1988, a result of his years of intravenous drug use. He wanted to leave a legacy, to use his disease for positive change.

That fall he talked to a group of middle school students about living with AIDS, beginning The Catalyst Foundation’s HIV prevention activities. Although he soon became too sick to continue, he asked his wife, Dr. Susan Lawrence, to carry on his legacy.

A year later, Susan and Maryanne Rowerdink, R.N., formally opened The Catalyst Foundation’s first office. The two had treated AIDS patients since 1985 as part of their private practice of medical oncology and HIV/AIDS.

Susan became the Executive and Medical Director of the Foundation, while Maryanne served as Clinic Coordinator. The Foundation’s initial services included medical care and HIV prevention activities.

In 1994, Frank Altadonna joined The Catalyst Foundation team as a volunteer and soon became a visionary within the organization. He and Susan worked closely on the development of Catalyst’s HIV prevention program for the teenage boys incarcerated at Challenger Memorial Youth Center, which began later that year. Infected with Hepatitis C as well as HIV, Frank died in 1999 awaiting a liver transplant.

That same year Susan and Maryanne decided that Catalyst’s HIV healthcare services needed to grow to match the needs of the community. They began work to expand The Catalyst Foundation’s medical services. They also realized that there was limited local treatment for people with Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C has many of the same risk factors as HIV, and is much more prevalent.

In 2003, their new project became a reality with the opening of the Bartz-Altadonna Memorial Clinic to treat people with HIV and/or Hepatitis C.

Then, recognizing the enormous healthcare needs in our geographically remote and underserved community, in 2006 the Clinic opened its doors to provide primary medical care to low-income, uninsured, and homeless people regardless of HIV/HCV status.