About D-rek’s angels & warriors

  • Defy it

    The world tried to erase us.

    Long-term survivors were never meant to be here. So we are.

    But survival isn’t the end of the story.

  • Honor it

    We carry the names of those lost. We remember the partners, caregivers, and chosen families left behind.


    We don’t let their stories fade. We build legacy from silence.

  • fight for it

    We fight for those forgotten; because no survivor, no loved one, should ever be erased again.

Skull with headphones, a red ribbon, white angel wings, and a sword in the background.

Angels & Warriors is more than a message—it’s a movement in action.

We support long-term survivors by educating the public, speaking out in schools and communities, and fighting stigma through lived experience.

We organize:

  • An annual Toy Drive benefiting children impacted by any health condition. Every child deserves a spot of brightness in difficult times.

  • Public speaking and education events to share survivor stories and shift the narrative

  • Plans for AIDS walks, awareness campaigns, and grassroots community action

We don’t just talk about change. We show up.

Because silence has never saved lives. But truth still can.

A man in a suit and tie sitting comfortably in a large, high-backed chair with a smile on his face.

not just a footnote in history.

D-REK’s Angels & Warriors was founded by Derek Canas, a long-term survivor who contracted HIV as a child through a blood transfusion following surgery for a congenital heart defect. Born with transposition of the great arteries, Derek underwent open-heart surgery as an infant and has lived with a pacemaker since he was a child. Now on his fifth device, he continues to navigate life with both HIV and chronic heart disease.

Over the years, Derek’s personal fight evolved into a broader mission. He became a passionate advocate. Not just for himself, but for others living with HIV whose stories are often left out of public awareness and policy conversations. Angels & Warriors was created to spotlight these realities, with a focus on communities that are routinely underrepresented: heterosexual individuals, serodiscordant couples, and long-term survivors.

This nonprofit exists to challenge stigma, educate the public, and center survivors who rarely see themselves reflected in advocacy spaces. Derek speaks openly about his medical history, the emotional toll of long-term illness, and the gaps he sees in healthcare systems. His voice is unapologetically rooted in lived experience and fueled by a determination to build connection, not pity.

D-REK’s Angels & Warriors is more than a message, it’s a movement. The organization leads community-based efforts like the annual toy drive, contributes to national conversations on stigma, and works with partners across the country to amplify survivor voices and promote understanding. It stands for truth, visibility, and the power of showing up even when the world would rather look away.

Where do donations go?

Angels & Warriors isn’t built on hope. It’s built on action.

Your donation fuels the operations that let us show up, speak up, and fight stigma loud and clear. We don’t pocket your generosity. Every dollar goes straight into the mission—not into anyone’s wallet.

All board members are volunteers. No salaries. No profit.

  • Core Operations

    • Website hosting & platform tools
      Keeps AngelsAndWarriors.org online, active, and accessible 24/7

    • Tech & Tap-to-Pay Access
      Supports instant donations, mobile engagement, and contactless outreach

    • Design, print, and material costs
      Handouts, QR flyers, donation posters, and public-facing education tools

    On-the-Ground Outreach

    • Animal crew and merch giveaways
      Each one given, not sold, where they’re most needed

    • Merch printing and shipping
      Every shirt, pin, or sticker spreads the message and funds the work

    • Event readiness
      From tabling gear to transport, we show up ready to represent

    • No salaries

    • No admin fees

    • No travel stipends

    • No fancy offices

    • No “nonprofit overhead spin”

  • Donating to Angels & Warriors doesn’t mean funding a logo. It means keeping the lights on, printing the words that break silence, and getting the tools in our hands when they’re needed most.

  • Angels & Warriors is about building spaces where people living with HIV, long-term survivors, families, and allies can gather without stigma.

    Your support helps lay the groundwork for:

    • Community AIDS Walks
      Events that honor long-term survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and bring visibility to underrepresented voices.

    • Local HIV Testing Events
      Accessible, stigma-free environments where testing is normalized, not whispered about.

    • Educational & Awareness Gatherings
      Panels, speaker sessions, and outreach efforts focused on heterosexual individuals, serodiscordant couples, and long-term survivors who are often overlooked.

    • Partnerships with Local Organizations
      Collaborations that amplify resources and strengthen regional impact.