AHF on National HIV Testing Day—Friday June 27th: ‘Keep Calm & Get Tested!

In News by AHF

AHF to host over 16 free HIV mobile testing events in eight regions nationwide including

California, Florida, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Dallas, Columbus, OH and Jackson, MS; Flagship Los Angeles event includes:

 

·      MacArthur Park—Free testing on one of AHF’s mobile HIV testing vans—11am to 4pm, also

·      30th Birthday celebration/award presentation to HYDEIA BROADBENT, international HIV/AIDS activist & humanitarian who has been HIV-positive since birth

 

What:  Free mobile HIV testing, condom distribution events on National HIV Testing Day

When:  Friday June 27th 2014   (AHF HIV testing events set nationwide)

 

LOS ANGELES/Southland Area events:

MacArthur Park

  • 11:15amKick-off PRESS CONFERENCE  (MacArthur Park)
  • Whitney Engeran-Cordova, Sr. Director, Public Health Division, AHF
  • Alexander Goncalvez, Associate Director of Mobile Testing Programs, AHF
  • Ana Gomez, Field Deputy for Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo, (District 1)

Presentation of advocacy/awareness award (and 30th birthday recognition) to:

  • Hydeia Broadbent, HIV/AIDS activist who has been HIV-positive since birth
  • Cynthia Davis, MPH, Assistant Professor, and HIV Testing Program Director Drew University HIV/Education and outreach Project, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, California and a Board member of AHF
  • Samantha Granberry, Senior Director, AHF Worldwide, introducing a surprise presentation to Hydeia Broadbent
    • 11:00am to 4:00pmFREE HIV TESTING, AHF mobile HIV testing van,                  MacArthur Park, 676 S. Alvarado Street, Los Angeles 90057

 

South Los Angeles

  • 12:00pm to 3:00pm—FREE TESTING, AHF mobile HIV testing van
    • Pueblo del Rio Housing Development, 5416 Long Beach Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90058

Long Beach

  • 9:00pm to 2:00am—FREE TESTING, AHF mobile HIV testing van
  • Executive Suite (nightclub), 3428 Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90804

West Hollywood

  • 9:00pm to 2:00am—FREE TESTING, AHF mobile HIV testing van
  • 8900 Santa Monica Blvd. (corner, San Vicente Blvd.), W. Hollywood, CA 90069

Contacts:        

  • Ged Kenslea,  +1.323.308.1833 or mobile 323.791.5526                     [email protected]  
  • Kyveli Diener, +1.323.960.4846 or mobile 310.779.4796                     [email protected]

 

LOS ANGELES (June 25, 2014) Friday, June 27th marks National HIV Testing Day, and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is marking the day by making free rapid HIV tests and free condoms available at special testing events in at least 16 locations in eight regions nationwide where AHF provides services, including four testing events set for throughout Southern California.

 

The flagship Los Angeles event includes a day of free HIV testing in MacArthur Park (11:00am to 4:00pm on one of AHF’s mobile HIV testing vans) that will also include a 30th Birthday celebration/award presentation to Hydeia Broadbent, international HIV/AIDS activist & humanitarian who has been HIV-positive since her birth 30 years ago. There will be a kickoff press conference at the MacArthur Park testing site at 11:15am. Other Southern California events include mobile HIV testing in South Los Angeles, Long Beach and West Hollywood.

 

“Nearly 1.2 million people are living with HIV and almost one in five don’t know they are infected,” said Whitney Engeran-Cordova, Senior Director, Public Health Division for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Through our ‘Keep Calm & Get Tested’ National HIV testing Day campaign, we hope to raise awareness surrounding the importance of knowing your status by taking our message of HIV prevention, testing, education and treatment directly to the community through these innovative and easily accessible mobile testing events.”

 

30th Birthday Recognition Award for AIDS Activist Hydeia Broadbent, HIV-positive Since Birth

In conjunction with National HIV Testing Day, Hydeia Broadbent, international HIV/AIDS activist & humanitarian will be recognized at the MacArthur Park testing event press conference for her extraordinary contributions in the field of HIV/AIDS awareness, advocacy and prevention on the observation of her thirtieth birthday.

 

HIV-positive since birth on June 14, 1984—a time when AZT, the first AIDS drug was not yet even available to people with HIV/AIDS—Broadbent began her debut as an HIV/AIDS activist and public speaker at six years old.  By 12 years old, Hydeia appeared on many national television programs including Oprah, 20/20, Good Morning America, and “A Conversation with Magic Johnson” on Nickelodeon. She has been featured in prominent publications including: The New York Times, People, Teen People, Essence, Ebony and Sister 2 Sister.

 

Today, Hydeia is a distinguished international motivational speaker and HIV/AIDS activist with a mission to educate people of all ages by channeling her very personal experience and passion into a lifelong mission of HIV/AIDS awareness, advocacy and prevention.

 

Hydeia also became an honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., on June 15th, 2012.

 

AHF’s National HIV Testing Day Events Around the Country

Other AHF National HIV Testing Day mobile testing events take place in eight regions nationwide including in Southern California, Florida (Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Miami Beach and Pensacola) Atlanta, GA; Brooklyn, NY; Dallas, TX; Columbus, OH and Jackson, MS. These special testing events will take place in addition to AHF’s regularly scheduled free testing opportunities inside of AHF Pharmacy and Out of the Closet Thrift Store locations, and at AHF Wellness and Healthcare Centers and through mobile testing units. One can find the nearest testing opportunity at www.freehivtest.net. Or see the list below:

 

AHF’s 2014 National HIV Testing Day Events Around the Country (continued)

 

Atlanta, GA——11am-7pm

  • The Mall West End, 850 Oak St., SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

Brooklyn, NY——4m-8pm

  • Williamsburg Music Hall, 66 N 6th St., Brooklyn, NY 11211

South Florida

  • Wilton Drive Strip—8pm-2am
    • Wilton Drive & 7th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33305
    • Twist Nightclub——8pm-2am
      • 1057 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139
      • 101 NW 1st St., Miami——12pm-5pm
        • 102 NW 1st St., Miami, FL 33128
        • 777 American Express Way——8am-2pm
          • 777 American Express Way, Plantation, FL 33337

Pensacola, FL

  • Waterfront Rescue Mission—8am-11:30am
    • 380 Herman St., Pensacola, FL 32505
    • Attucks Court Housing—1pm-5pm
      • 380 Herman St., Pensacola, FL 32505

Jacksonville, FL

  • Pearl Plaza—10am-6pm
    • 5212 N. Pearl St., FL 32208
    • FSCJ Downtown ATC—8am-3pm
      • 401 W. State St., Jacksonville, FL 32202

Jackson, MS

  • Bottoms Up Bar—9pm-2am
    • 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave., Jackson, MS 39213

Dallas, TX

  • TMC Dance Club—8pm-2am
    • 3903 Cedar Springs Rd., Dallas, TX 75219

Columbus, OH

  • Out of the Closet Thrift Store—2pm-6pm
    • 1230 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43201

 

 

Free HIV Testing at the ‘BET Experience’ in Los Angeles June 28 & 29

In addition, AIDS Healthcare Foundation is partnering with BET (Black Entertainment Television), Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles and the Reed for Hope Foundation in a multi-platform campaign during this weekend’s ‘BET Experience’ being held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29. The partners will host an information and testing booth at the two-day event with special appearances by Hydeia Broadbent, international HIV/AIDS activist & humanitarian who has been HIV-positive since her birth 30 years ago. AHF will also provide free HIV test kits—and counselors affiliated with Planned Parenthood will conduct testing in the collaborative AHF/BET/Planned Parenthood/Reed for Hope event booth.

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