|
San Francisco, Sept. 30th: Grand Opening of New AHF
"Magic Johnson" HIV/AIDS Clinic on Church St.
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
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (September 28, 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.
WHAT: Grand Opening/Ribbon-cutting Ceremony-"Magic Johnson" Clinic
AHF's First "All-in-One" Site with a Clinic, Pharmacy, Thrift Store and free HIV Testing
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, September 30th 2009--10:00 AM
WHERE: AHF "Magic Johnson" Healthcare Center
100 Church St. (Adjacent to "Out of the Closet" Thrift Store)
San Francisco, CA 94114
WHO: The Honorable Mark Leno
, California State Senate, D-San Francisco/San Rafael, District 3
The Honorable Leland Yee, Ph.D, California State Senate, Assistant President pro Tempore,
D-San Francisco/San Mateo, District 8
Michael Weinstein, President, AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Adam Ouderkirk, Bay Area Regional Director, AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Whitney Engeran-Cordova, Director, Public Health Division, AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Other Honored Guests, TBA
CONTACTS:
Ged Kenslea, AHF Dir. of Communications,
(323) 791-5526 cell (323) 860-5225 office
Adam Ouderkirk, AHF Bay Area Regional Director,
(415) 519-1759 cell
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.
"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,
###
About AHF
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation's largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare, research,
prevention and education provider. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 65,000 individuals in 20 countries worldwide in the US, Africa,
Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org
"Reproduced with permission - AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)"
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)
|
