Shanti Project

Founded in 1974 by Dr.Charlie Garfield at the UCSF Cancer Institute, Shanti was one of the first-ever volunteer organizations to work with terminally-ill individuals, and later became one of the very first community-based HIV/AIDS organizations in the world.

Shanti has trained over 15,000 volunteers in the Bay Area and 600 organizations world-wide in the Shanti Model of Peer Support, and in the Bay Area alone, Shanti volunteers have provided over 3 million hours of care-giving. Each year, Shanti works to enhance the quality of life, health, and well-being of people living with life-threatening and disabling illnesses, including cancer, HIV, and Hepatitis C Virus.

Last year, we served over 2,200 vulnerable individuals who face some of life’s most difficult challenges, often in isolation, without compassionate or practical support. Thank you for joining us as we create a more compassionate future for all!