San Francisco: Grand Opening of AHF “Magic Johnson” Clinic & AHF’s First All-in-One Site
Event Marks the Opening of AHF’s First “All-in-One” Site—and the First of its Kind in the Nation—With a Healthcare Center, AHF Pharmacy, “Out of the Closet” Thrift Store and Free HIV Testing All in One Location
By: AIDS Healthcare Foundation
San Francisco, CA - September 30, 2009
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the US’ largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider, which provides medical care and/or services to more than 100,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide, is honored to announce the grand opening of the Church St. AHF "Magic Johnson" Healthcare Center, AHF’s first "all-in-one" site—and the first of its kind in the nation. In addition to the "Magic Johnson" clinic, the new facility includes an AHF Pharmacy, an "Out of the Closet" Thrift Store and free HIV testing—all in one location.
California State Senators Mark Leno (D-San Francisco/San Rafael) and Leland Yee, Ph.D., (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) will help AHF officially open this new venture in the fight against AIDS, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 30th at 10am at the new AHF "Magic Johnson" Healthcare Center located on 100 Church St., San Francisco, CA 94114, adjacent to AHF’s "Out of the Closet" Thrift Store. Employees from Levi Strauss & Co. will also be on hand at the event, working as volunteers, to welcome the community to the "Out of the Closet" Thrift Store, as well as dressing the store's windows. Levi Strauss & Co. has been a longtime supporter of AHF's work in the Bay Area through its partnership with "Out of the Closet" in support of its HIV/AIDS testing and prevention programs.
"I am delighted to announce the launch of this new San Francisco HIV/AIDS care facility named in honor of Magic Johnson at AHF’s first ‘all-in-one’ site—and the first of its kind in the nation," said Michael Weinstein, AHF President. "It is our hope that this new state-of-the-art HIV/AIDS healthcare center combined with free HIV testing services and an AHF Pharmacy—the first nonprofit pharmacy in the neighborhood—will offer the community a uniquely accessible and truly patient-centered experience."
AHF has been serving clients in San Francisco since 2002 through its AHF "Magic Johnson" Healthcare Center and AHF Pharmacy (at its former location), and through HIV testing services. All of AHF’s sixteen healthcare centers—located in California and Florida—provide comprehensive, patient-centered care designed specifically for HIV-positive clients, offering access to the additional specialists, medications and services they need to be as healthy as possible. This newest facility is AHF’s fifth clinic named in partnership with and in honor of HIV-positive basketball legend Magic Johnson. Other AHF "Magic Johnson" Healthcare Centers include sites in the West Adams District of Los Angeles; in Oakland; and in Miami and Jacksonville, Florida.
"AHF is proud to open this new facility in the heart of San Francisco, providing comprehensive services in one convenient location right next door to our popular ‘Out of the Closet’ Thrift Store," said Judith Briggs Marsh, Domestic Vice-Chair of AHF’s Board of Directors and a longtime Bay Area resident. "At a time when funding for vitally necessary AIDS care is being cut, AHF is gratified to be able to find ways to expand and fund lifesaving HIV/AIDS services. Ninety-six cents of every dollar AHF earns through the thrift store and the pharmacy is used to fund HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and advocacy."
In addition to providing specialized expertise for people living with HIV/AIDS, AHF Pharmacy also offers the community a friendly, personal and not-for-profit alternative to the large, retail pharmacies. AHF Pharmacy is a full-service pharmacy, able to fill any prescription and open to everyone—HIV-positive or not. Revenues generated contribute to caring for AHF patients as well as supporting its prevention and testing programs worldwide. As its spokesperson in print and television advertisements, actor and activist Blair Underwood has urged widespread use of the AHF pharmacy as an opportunity to help others, saying: "Any pharmacy can fill a prescription. Only one can change lives."
"AHF is reinventing the idea of a local, neighborhood pharmacy by offering customers highly specialized services and a way to give back," said Adam Ouderkirk, AHF’s Bay Area Regional Director. "As the first nonprofit pharmacy in the area, the AHF Pharmacy offers everyone in the community an opportunity o help people in need locally and in countries around the world to get the lifesaving HIV/AIDS medical care and treatment they need."
"In addition to the clinic and pharmacy, AHF’s new Church St. facility will also offer free, confidential HIV testing using the oral rapid test," said Whitney Engeran-Cordova, Director of AHF’s Public Health Division. "AHF is glad to be able to offer this free service to the community and to work with other local agencies and the Department of Public Health to maximize access to HIV testing for the people of San Francisco."
With nineteen locations throughout California and Florida—including five in the Bay Area—AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s popular and award-winning "Out of the Closet" thrift store chain is the nation’s largest retail fundraising vehicle for HIV/AIDS medical care. Several "Out of the Closet" Thrift Store locations offer free HIV testing services, including the Polk St. location and soon at the newly opened Oakland store. AHF is the operator of the largest non-government HIV testing program in California currently providing more than 30,000 tests this year.
