FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF):
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What: |
Florida AIDS Walk | ||
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When: |
Sunday, March 20, 2011, 10:00 am: Walk Begins, 9:20 am: Opening Ceremony |
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| (8:00 am: Registration/Check-in begins) | |||
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Where: |
Huizenga Plaza, Downtown Ft. Lauderdale | ||
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Who: |
Michael Kahane, Bureau Chief, Southern Region, AIDS Healthcare Foundation |
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| Other Honored Guests TBD | |||
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Contact: |
Mark Martin, AHF Regional Dir., Community Relations & Development (954) 383-8007 | ||
Thousands of caring individuals from across the state will join together to participate in the Florida AIDS Walk 2011 a 10-kilometer walk this Sunday, March 20th in Ft. Lauderdale starting at Huizenga Plaza at 10:00 am (Opening Ceremony begins at 9:20 am and Registration/Check-in begins at 8:00 am). Entertainment at the Opening Ceremony includes performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida and recording artist Nicole Henry.
Presented by AHF Pharmacy, Florida AIDS Walk 2011 is dedicated to raising awareness of the fact that more than 167,000 Floridians are living with HIV/AIDS, and to generating as much financial support as possible to provide the lifesaving care and services that they need. Additionally, funds raised will go toward the expansion of HIV prevention and testing efforts in Florida’s Broward and Miami Dade counties. Beneficiaries of this year’s Walk are AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Broward House, SunServe, the Pride Center at Equality Park and Women In Network. More information about the Florida AIDS Walk is available at www.floridaAIDSwalk.org.
“We are so grateful to all the participants in this year’s Florida AIDS Walk who are on track to make this year’s Walk even more successful than last year’s,” said Michael Kahane, Southern Bureau Chief for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “This year, the Florida AIDS Walk family is dedicated to not only to raising awareness of the fact that more than 167,000 Floridians are living with HIV/AIDS, but also to generating as much financial support as possible to provide the care and services that they so desperately need. 100% of the proceeds stay right here in Florida. Thank you, South Florida, for demonstrating your dedication to having an impact on the fight against AIDS in our state.”
According to statistics released by the Florida Department of Health, Florida ranked third among states in the number of reported AIDS cases in 2008 with 3,960 cases. Florida also ranked third among the 38 states that reported HIV infection in 2008, with 5,165 cases. Florida has consistently reported 10–12% of the national AIDS morbidity and currently accounts for 11% of all persons living with AIDS in the U.S. The Department of Health now estimates that approximately 125,000 persons, or roughly 11.7% of the national total, are currently living with HIV infection in Florida as of the end of 2007.
“I am deeply inspired by all of this year’s dedicated Walkers, Team Captains and Sponsors who have committed themselves to fighting for people living with HIV/AIDS,” said Mark Martin, AHF’s Regional Director, Community Relations & Development. ”Last year, thousands of caring and thoughtful individuals from across the state gathered in Fort Lauderdale for the Florida AIDS Walk 2010 and raised more than $460,000 for lifesaving AIDS care and services. We are so pleased to join with people from across the state again this year to bring a renewed sense of urgency and awareness to the community and help turn the tide of Florida’s AIDS crisis.”
About the beneficiaries: Founded in 1987, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the largest global AIDS organization. Its mission is to provide cutting-edge medicine and advocacy, regardless of a person’s ability to pay. Broward House’s mission is to improve the lives of individuals living with or at risk for HIV and other health issues through the provision of high quality services in a loving, caring atmosphere, regardless of the individuals’ financial status. SunServe is the first Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Social Service Agency in South Florida with a mission to reach out to those in need with an emphasis on the economically disadvantaged, and marginalized youth, senior adults, and people of differing abilities and life changing health conditions in greater South Florida. The Pride Center at Equality Park’s mission is to provide a welcoming, safe space — an inclusive home that celebrates, nurtures and empowers the LGBTQ communities and our friends and neighbors in South Florida. Women In Network Women In Network (WIN) is a social and networking organization for Lesbians, offering the opportunity for women to experience a sense of friendship and community while working toward the common goals of pride, achievement and harmony.
The Grand Sponsor for Florida AIDS Walk 2011 is MDS Builders, Inc. Principal Sponsors include Cardinal Health, Edge/edgeonthenet.com, Florida Agenda, Genre Latino, HOTSpots!, LabCorp, Mark Magazine, Mark’s List/Agenda, Sidelines Sports Bar, South Florida Gay News, Sun-Sentinel, Volunteer Broward and WRMF.
About AHF
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 152,000 individuals in 26 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. In Florida, AIDS Healthcare Foundation serves more than 15,000 people living with HIV/AIDS through a variety of programs, including Positive Healthcare (a statewide disease management program), Positive Healthcare Managed Care, testing and prevention programs, AHF Healthcare Centers in Jacksonville, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale and eight AHF Pharmacy locations. AHF also operates three Out of the Closet Thrift Store locations in South Florida—in Wilton Manors, Miami and South Beach.