June 2, 2011
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Over a dozen of San Francisco’s leading HIV/AIDS service organizations have come together to send a message: AIDS is still here. Do something!Â
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on June 5, 1981 mentioned the first cases of AIDS. In these 30 years we have suffered great losses and have come together as a community to overcome unimaginable hurdles. Though we have made and celebrated some advances, challenges remain ahead to stop an epidemic that has claimed the lives of over half a million persons in the United States, and upwards of 25 million persons worldwide.
On Thursday, June 2, a press conference will be held at the SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street, San Francisco, at 10 AM to launch the year-long campaign for 30AIDS. Our goals are to raise awareness and money while paying tribute to those who have passed away and the individuals who have helped along the way. Ultimately, we want to provide better services to reduce infection rates, to help our community to be adequately resourced, improve the lives for people living with HIV/AIDS and help find a cure.Â
The coalition is using this anniversary as a call to action to reflect on AIDS and ask the question: Now What? With AIDS “fatigue” so prevalent, 30AIDS will inspire the community to:
Do Something! – to become more aware and participate in any way they can. 30AIDS will launch a marketing campaign growing a social network for people to engage one another. 30AIDS will be inviting people to independently create and share their stories about AIDS.
Campaign co-chair, Henry Lucero of Project Inform says, “This is such an exciting opportunity to engage young people and also re-engage AIDS-weary San Franciscans in making meaningful contributions to a problem that is still very much in our midst. Giving out 30 condoms, donating $30 or $300, calling 30 friends and reminding them to get tested, or making a 30 second video to share with the world – these are just a few of the many ways that we can make big impacts.”
30AIDS is currently comprised of AIDS Emergency Fund, AIDS Legal Referral Panel, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Black Coalition on AIDS, Horizons Foundation, Instituto Familiar de la Raza, Maitri, Mission Neighborhood Health, National AIDS Memorial Grove, Native American AIDS Project, Pets Are Wonderful Support, Positive Resource Center, Project Inform, Project Open Hand, Shanti, Stop AIDS Project, and Tenderloin Health.
For more information visit the 30AIDS website.