AHF’s 'Out of the Closet' Thrift Stores Celebrate 30 Years!

Socially distanced anniversary celebration at original Atwater Village (Los Angeles) AIDS thrift store location; OTC to offer 30% off all purchases at all 20 locations in 7 states for the first 10 days in October

Atwater OTC Celebration: Friday, October 2^nd 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will mark the 30^th anniversary of its award-winning 'Out of the Closet' (OTC) thrift store chain with a socially distanced celebration and 30^th anniversary sale on Friday, October 2^nd at the first 'Out of the Closet' location in Los Angeles’ Atwater Village (3160 N. Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039). The celebration and sale will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and feature a DJ, a free food truck and an opportunity for attendees to take a free, rapid HIV test. Residents from across the area will be joined by local dignitaries and civic leaders.

To mark the milestone, all 20 'Out of the Closet' locations across seven states will offer 30% discounts off all merchandise for the first ten days in October, including on OTC’s famed array of trendy clothes, furniture, books and housewares. Other OTC locations may also be hosting local celebrations marking the 30-year benchmark of Out of the Closet’s awareness and fundraising efforts for HIV/AIDS care and services.

WHAT:	Out of the Closet’s 30^th Anniversary Celebration at OTC’s First L.A. Store
	$0.96 cents of every dollar earned is invested back into HIV/AIDS education, awareness and prevention programs in the local community.
WHEN:	Friday, October 2, 2020
	2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
WHERE:	OUT OF THE CLOSET Thrift Store, Atwater Village
	3160 N. Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039
	323.664.4394 store
WHO:	OUT OF THE CLOSET & AHF staff and community partners & members

“When we opened our first 'Out of the Closet' store 30 years ago in October, AIDS Healthcare Foundation was best known as a provider of AIDS hospice care to those in Los Angeles regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. We hoped that we could ease the final days of patients and help shift the trajectory of the local AIDS epidemic with both awareness—and critical funds—raised at this and our other stores that soon followed,” said Michael Weinstein, AHF president. “Today, we are a worldwide organization providing lifesaving care to over 1.4 million people in 45 countries around the world. 'Out of the Closet' remains a powerhouse brand for AHF—a beacon for our of AIDS awareness and education as well as easily accessible locales for our free HIV and STD testing services.”

“Friday’s 30^th anniversary celebration will offer the chance for Atwater Village and Los Angeles area shoppers and residents to celebrate with us marking our 30 years of sales service to the community. It also offers shoppers the chance to discover many of the unique finds and hidden treasures for which ‘Out of the Closet’ is famous,” said Jonathan Kreuyer, General Manager of 'Out of the Closet' stores. “With nineteen other locations in California, Florida, Georgia, New York, Ohio, Texas and Washington state—AHF’s 'Out of the Closet' Thrift Store chain is the nation’s largest retail fundraising venture for HIV/AIDS medical care, and ninety-six cents of every dollar earned is directed towards local HIV/AIDS awareness efforts as part of our mission to provide HIV/AIDS care to those in need.”

Now with 20 locations nationwide, 'Out of the Closet' Thrift stores provide people a fun, cause-worthy place to shop and donate gently used goods in support of the fight against HIV/AIDS. Many 'Out of the Closet' Thrift Stores make HIV testing easy with fixed-site testing in stores. The Atwater OTC offers free, Rapid HIV Testing at its location seven days per week from 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.—(6:00 p.m. on Sundays). Many 'Out of the Closet' sites are also connected to an AHF Pharmacy, providing a convenient one-stop experience for clients to shop and pick up their medications.

Every OTC location will mark the 30^th anniversary with 30% discounts offered on all merchandise during the first ten days of October. In addition, the 'Out of the Closet' store in Atlanta (1858 Cheshire Bridge Rd., NE, ATL, GA 30324 tel: [phone]) will be hosting an event on October 10^th. In Houston, the 'Out of the Closet' site—with Houston’s famed 'Biscuit Montrose Paint Wall’—(1435 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006 tel: [phone]) will host an event connected to the store winning the ‘Out Smart’ magazine’s ‘Best Thrift Store’ award for the second year in a row. The Houston store will also offer 30% discounts October 24^th, the day of its celebration.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.4 million individuals in 45 countries worldwide in the U.S., Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us @aidshealthcare.