Mission
Our imperative is to support those who help rebuild young lives disrupted by substance use disorder and addiction.
We raise funds to benefit proven Madison non-profits doing the critical, life-saving work of advancing awareness, fostering outreach, or delivering treatment services in our community.
History
Aidan Sweet was a beautiful, intelligent, perceptive, compassionate young man. He was just seventeen when he died shortly after taking a sleep aid, not knowing it contained a lethal dose of fentanyl, a potent, odorless, flavorless opioid.
His mother, Margaret, founded ASIF in 2020 and joined with other parents striving to protect families from the devastation of fentanyl-laced, counterfeit prescriptions and medications. Her activism evolved into a broader imperative to support those who help rebuild young lives disrupted by substance use disorder.
Margaret’s fiercest wish is that Aidan still shared the world with her, but her next wish is that no one else will suffer as she and Aidan, and all those who love them, have.
Isintu
The Zulu people of South Africa have a remarkable word for which there is no equivalent in English.
Isintu refers to the special interactions among people which make each person in the exchange feel more connected, more fulfilled, and more whole. Its meaning is often translated as: I am, because we are.
We believe that isintu is manifest in the compassion and strength we are all capable of giving one another, and that it is the way to transform lives and communities.
Team
MARGARET SWEET
President / Director
KAY LEKOMA
Vice President / Director
MUNYA CHASI
Director
MICHELLE SPEARMAN
Director
KATIE PLACE
Secretary / Treasurer
News
ASIF supporters gathered on a gorgeous Sunday morning in September to commemorate the foundation’s 5th anniversary by participating in the annual Run Wild 5K at Henry Vilas Zoo. We are proud that Team ASIF was the second largest race group this year!
ASIF raised $3080, which not only helps Henry Vilas Zoo and the Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, but also furthers ASIF’s essential local efforts to help rebuild young lives disrupted by substance disorder.
Our heartfelt thank you to those who showed up for the team and to those who donated ahead of the event. We appreciate your time, compassion and humanity: your isintu!
