LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In commemoration of this year’s 24th observation of World AIDS Day, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization is spearheading a number of free HIV testing and awareness events throughout the country, including the opening of two new treatment centers in Oakland, CA and Dallas, TX. With an abundance of information and condoms to give away – in addition to prizes, performances, and over 200 hours of free HIV testing across the country – AHF is making it easy for people to know their HIV status, stay informed on the latest treatment and advocacy around the disease, and responsibly protect themselves and others from HIV infection. (NOTE: A full nationwide schedule of events is provided below).
"In celebrating this national day for HIV/AIDS awareness and action, AHF will continue doing what we've done best for the past 25 years — provide treatment, care and services, including free HIV testing, so that people can be aware of their HIV status and, if necessary, get linked into care and treatment," said AHF President Michael Weinstein. "We will also mark World AIDS Day this year with the opening of two new state-of-the-art AHF Healthcare Centers in two vastly different parts of the country—Oakland, California and Dallas, Texas—where we hope to make treatment for those infected with HIV even more accessible. The 200-plus hours of free HIV testing opportunities spearheaded by AHF and our partners for these World AIDS Day events around the country should help people get used to integrating such testing into their lives on a routine basis, as recently recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an influential government advisory panel. Sadly, more than 240,000 of the 1.1 million people infected with HIV in the U.S. today have never been tested for HIV and are unaware of their status. The Task Force's sensible recommendation, when adopted, should eliminate a huge stumbling block to the implementation of such routine HIV testing, as it will pave the way for both government and most private insurers to now pay for the testing.”
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Rundown of World AIDS Day/AHF Events & Partners |
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 |
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GEORGIA |
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8:00 am – HIV testing with DeKalb County Board of Health |
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Where: DeKalb Addiction Clinic |
| 455 Winn Way, Decatur, GA 30030 |
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6:00 pm – Project Condom (Fashion show and On-site Mobile HIV Testing) |
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Where: Morehouse College Sale Hall |
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830 Westview Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303 |
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OHIO |
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4:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Sexual Health Fair with Columbus Public Health Department |
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Where: Columbus Public Health Sexual Health Clinic |
| 240 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215 |
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Thursday, November 29, 2012 |
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FLORIDA |
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11:00 am – 2:00 pm – World AIDS Day Fair (six panels of AIDS quilt on display, HIV testing, MAC makeovers, condom distribution) |
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Where: Florida Gulf Coast University campus |
| 10501 FGCU Blvd. S |
| Fort Myers, FL 33965 |
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GEORGIA |
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8:00 am – free HIV testing |
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Where: Aldredge Clinic |
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99 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303 |
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8:00 am – free HIV testing |
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Where: DeKalb Board of Health Vinson Clinic |
| 440 Winn Way, Decatur, GA 30031 |
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10:00 am – 3:00 pm – free HIV testing |
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Where: Agnes Scott College |
| 141 E. College Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030 |
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Friday, November 30, 2012 |
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CALIFORNIA |
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10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Free HIV testing (plus snacks and giveaways) with Mission Neighborhood Health Center |
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Where: MNHC parking lot |
| 240 Shotwell Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. |
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9:00 am – D.C. Committee on Health’s Annual World AIDS Day Fair |
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Where: Councilmember David A. Cantania’s Office |
| The Wilson Building |
| 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004 |
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Free HIV Testing: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm |
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Health Fair: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm |
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Contact: Molly M. Moulton, staff assistant, Committee on Health Councilmember David A. Cantania, At-Large |
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1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 115, Washington, DC 20004; (202) 724-8170 |
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NEW YORK |
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9:30 am – 11:30 am – Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Breakfast honoring the 2-year anniversary of the “Brooklyn Knows” HIV Testing Campaign, with whom AHF is a new partnering agency |
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Where: Brooklyn Borough Hall |
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209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 |
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4:00 pm – 7:00 pm – HIV testing at the Brooklyn’s Got Talent: The Stop HIV Remix, hosted by Brooklyn Knows |
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Where: St. Francis College |
| 180 Remsen Street |
| Brooklyn, NY 11201 |
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7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – “Decisions, Decisions” Community Forum |
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“Decisions, Decisions” is a federally funded study that explored the connections between self-esteem, sex, discrimination, social support, substance use and decision-making in black and Latino gay men aged 18-22 |
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Where: NYC Gay and Lesbian Center |
| 208 W 13th Street |
| New York, NY 10011 |
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FLORIDA |
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12:00 pm – 6:00 pm – “Take The Train” county-wide testing campaign at train stations |
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Where: 2780 SW 27th Avenue |
| Coconut Grove, FL 33133 |
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RED RIBBON DAYS & TESTING (HIV testing, special condom packs, red ribbons, and Wall of Remembrance) |
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10:30 am – 7:00 pm: Ft. Lauderdale Out of the Closet |
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Where: 1785 E. Sunrise Blvd. |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 |
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10:00 am – 7:00 pm: Wilton Manors Out of the Closet |
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Where: 2097 Wilton Drive |
| Wilton Manors, FL 33305 |
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4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Wilton Manors AHF Wellness Center |
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Where: 2097 Wilton Drive |
| Wilton Manors, FL 33305 |
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10:30 am – 7:00 pm: South Beach Out of the Closet |
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Where: 1510 Alton Road |
| Miami Beach, FL 33139 |
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10:30 am – 7:00 pm: Miami Out of the Closet |
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Where: 2900 Biscayne Blvd. |
| Miami, FL 33965 |
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GEORGIA |
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3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – “Getting To Zero” Town Hall Community Conversation with on-site HIV testing from AHF mobile testing units |
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Where: Auburn Avenue Research Library |
| 101 Auburn Avenue NE |
| Atlanta, GA 30303 |
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Saturday, December 1, 2012 |
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CALIFORNIA |
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Whittier Rio Hondo AIDS Project World AIDS Day event (with free desserts, music, and raffle prizes) |
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Where: Sweet Dreams Dessert Lounge |
| 12824 Hadley Street |
| Whittier, CA 90601 |
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4:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Community Candlelight Vigil |
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7:00 pm – 11:00 pm – free HIV testing by AHF mobile testing units |
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12:00 pm – 6:00 pm – AHF mobile HIV testing units at KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball Village |
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Where: Nokia Theater L.A. Live |
| 777 Chick Hearn Court |
| Los Angeles, CA 90015 |
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10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Free HIV testing, flu shots, and blood pressure screenings (plus snacks and giveaways) in collaboration with Walgreens |
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Where: All Hallows Garden Apartments |
| 6 Baldwin Court |
| San Francisco, CA 94124 |
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1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Grand Opening of Oakland Men’s Wellness Center (tour, cookout, and first shift) |
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Where: 238 E. 18th Street |
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Oakland, CA 94606 |
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NEW YORK |
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11:00 pm – 2:00 am – HIV Testing in collaboration with Gay Men of African Descent (the only NYC-based AIDS service organization that focuses on serving African- American/black gay men) |
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Where: Langston Lounge |
| 1074 Atlantic Avenue |
| Brooklyn, NY 11238 |
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FLORIDA |
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11:00 am – 4:00 pm – World AIDS Day Celebration (contact: 727-409-0759) |
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Where: Williams Park |
| 3rd Street N |
| St. Petersburg, FL 33701 |
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8:30 am – 2:30 pm – CDTC World AIDS Day Community Event (contact: 954-712-5089) |
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Where: Delevoe Park |
| 2520 NW 6th Street |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 |
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3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – World AIDS Day, “Remembering Lives and Celebrating Loved Ones” (contact: Christina Hayes – 850-470-8071) |
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Where: Hancock Bank Club at Pensacola Bayfront Auditorium |
| 449 W Main Street |
| Pensacola, FL 32502 |
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12:00 pm – 3:00 pm – World AIDS Day Festival (HIV testing, condom distribution, six panels of the NAMES Project Quilt on display, free BBQ, music, and games) |
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Where: Clemente Park |
| 1936 Henderson Avenue |
| Fort Myers, FL 33916 |
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TIME TBD – Evening service commemorating those lost to HIV/AIDS (contact: 239-455- 6553) |
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Where: Unitarian Universalist Church |
| 6340 Napa Woods Way |
| Naples, FL 34116 |
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RED RIBBON DAYS & TESTING (HIV testing, special condom packs, red ribbons, and Wall of Remembrance) |
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12:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Ft. Lauderdale Out of the Closet |
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Where: 1785 E. Sunrise Blvd. |
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Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 |
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10:00 am – 7:00 pm: Wilton Manors Out of the Closet |
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Where: 2097 Wilton Drive |
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Wilton Manors, FL 33305 |
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10:00 am – 5:00 pm: Wilton Manors AHF Wellness Center |
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Where: 2097 Wilton Drive |
| Wilton Manors, FL 33305 |
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12:00 pm – 5:00 pm: South Beach Out of the Closet |
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Where: 1510 Alton Road |
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Miami Beach, FL 33139 |
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12:00 am – 5:00 pm: Miami Out of the Closet |
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Where: 2900 Biscayne Blvd. |
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Miami, FL 33965 |
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TEXAS |
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2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Testing event with 97.9 FM “The Beat” |
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Contacts: |
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Samantha Granberry, AHF Associate Director of Media: samantha.granberry@aidshealth.org |
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Edgar Gonzalez (secondary): (214) 632-6737 |
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Where: Big T Plaza |
| 4515 Village Fair |
| Dallas, TX 75224 |
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3:00 pm – 6:00 pm – World AIDS Day “Getting To Zero” Community Event hosted by AIDS Interfaith Network (AIN) with over 30 sponsors and partnering organizations (community leaders and AIDS activists will speak, local musicians and entertainers will perform, healthy living expo will be run throughout event) |
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Where: Main Street Garden |
| 1900 Main Street |
| Dallas, TX 75201 |
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HIV infection rates are at a five-year high for Dallas, so theme is “Getting To Zero” – zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths |
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Contact: Travis Gasper, (214) 500-9101, tgasper@aidsinterfaithnetwork.org |
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10:00 am – 2:00 pm – World AIDS Day “Getting To Zero” Community Event with over 10 partnering organizations |
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Where: 1100 Circle Drive |
| Fort Worth, TX 76119 |
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GEORGIA |
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All Day – Mobile HIV Testing throughout Fulton and DeKalb Counties (AHF collaboration with Fulton/DeKalb County Health & Wellness) |
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9:00 am – 10:30 am – Interfaith Prayer Breakfast (to kick off “Follow Me” faith-based testing initiative) |
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Contact: (404) 289-1474 |
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Where: Peace Lutheran Church |
| 1679 Columbia Drive |
| Decatur, GA 30032 |
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10:00 am – 2:00 pm – HIV testing |
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Where: Lithonia AHF Health Care Center |
| 5700 Hillandale Drive |
| Lithonia, GA 30058 |
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11:00 am – 3:00 pm – HIV testing |
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Where: South DeKalb Mall |
| 2801 Chandler Road |
| Decatur, GA 30034 |
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12:00 pm – HIV testing with Fulton/DeKalb County Health & Wellness |
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Where: H.E. Holmes MARTA station |
| 70 Hamilton E. Holmes Drive NW |
| Atlanta, GA 30311 |
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12:00 pm – 4:00 pm – HIV testing |
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Where: Greenbriar Mall |
| 2841 Greenbriar Parkway SW |
| Atlanta, GA 30331 |
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Sunday, December 2, 2012 |
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CALIFORNIA |
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8:00 am – 4:00 pm – free HIV testing and giveaways at Oakland Raiders v. Cleveland Browns Tailgate Party |
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Collaborating agencies: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Health and Human Services, Get Screened Oakland, HEPPAC, La Clinica de la Raza, Volunteers of America Bay Area, Cal-PEP |
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Where: 7000 Coliseum Way |
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Oakland, CA 94621 |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. |
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10:00 am – 2:00 pm – HIV testing |
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Contact: Rocky Thomas – (202) 415-4740 |
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Where: New Samaritan Baptist Church |
| 1100 Florida Avenue NW |
| Washington, DC 20002 |
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GEORGIA |
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10:00 am – HIV testing at St. James UMC (contact: 404-261-3121) |
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Where: 4400 Peachtree Dundywood Road NE |
| Atlanta, GA 30342 |
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Monday, December 3, 2012 |
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TEXAS |
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5:00 pm – 8:00 pm – open house at the new AHF Magic Johnson Health Care Center |
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Where: Dallas Magic Johnson HCC |
| 7777 Forest Lane, Suite B-122 |
| Dallas, TX 75230 |
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Friday, December 7, 2012 |
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CALIFORNIA |
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5:00 pm – 12:00 am – free HIV testing at First Friday Art Walk |
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Collaborating agencies: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Health and Human Services, Get Screened Oakland, HEPPAC, La Clinica de la Raza, Volunteers of America Bay Area, Cal-PEP, Berkeley Builds Capacity |
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Where: Telegraph Avenue between 17th and 26th streets |
| Oakland, CA 94612 |
| For additional information, please contact the following AHF regional representatives: |
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Los Angeles: Alexander Goncalvez – (213) 405-5817 or alexander.goncalvez@aidshealth.org |
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San Francisco Bay Area: Dale Gluth – (415) 218-9587 or dale.gluth@aidshealth.org |
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Texas: Bret Camp – (214) 533-2267 or bret.camp@aidshealth.org |
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New York City: Michael Camacho – (646) 265-7460 or michael.camacho@aidshealth.org |
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Florida / D.C. / Georgia: Jack Carrel – (281) 857-4837 or jack.carrell@aidshealth.org |
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Ohio: Adam Ouderkirk – (415) 519-1759 or adam.ouderkirk@aidshealth.org |
About AHF
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider in the USA. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 183,000 individuals in 27 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean Eastern Europe and Asia. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org