April 14, 2008 08:00 AM Eastern Time 

Actor Blair Underwood to Join Thousands of Walkers for Florida AIDS Walk, April 27^th

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation:

“I am inspired by all of the walkers and teams who, by signing up for Florida AIDS Walk this year, are demonstrating their commitment to supporting those living with the disease and to stopping the spread of HIV in Florida.”

Actor Blair Underwood (Dirty Sexy Money, In Treatment, The New Adventures of Old Christine) and actor/comedian Mario Cantone (Sex and the City: The Movie) will join thousands of walkers for the Florida AIDS Walk on Sunday, April 27^th, starting and ending at Huizenga Plaza in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. Presented by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), AHF Pharmacy and Out of the Closet Thrift Stores, funds raised by Florida AIDS Walk will support the expansion of free HIV testing and prevention education in Florida’s Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, as well as healthcare for HIV-positive individuals throughout the state. For more information, to make a donation, or to register as a team captain, walk participant, virtual walker, or volunteer, please visit: www.FloridaAIDSWalk.org. Whether walking the full 10k route, the 5k route or only a few blocks – each person’s participation will make a difference.

In April 2007, AIDS Walk Fort Lauderdale gathered together caring and thoughtful individuals committed to reversing the course of the AIDS epidemic in Broward County. People of all ages, races and backgrounds participated – including more than 4,000 individual walkers and teams from over 100 businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Returning in 2008 as Florida AIDS Walk, this event has expanded its scope to all of Florida. Florida AIDS Walk will recruit participants statewide to raise awareness that nearly 87,000 Floridians are living with HIV/AIDS, according to a November 2007 Surveillance Report released by the Florida Department of Health, Division of Disease Control.

“AIDS Healthcare Foundation appreciates this opportunity to join with people from across the state to bring a renewed sense of awareness to the community and help turn the tide of Florida’s AIDS crisis,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Florida AIDS Walk will not only raise urgently-needed funds for the expansion of free HIV testing, prevention education and treatment referral right here in Fort Lauderdale and throughout the state, but will also serve as a symbol of collaboration as Florida’s communities unite to fight this disease that knows no boundaries of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or political affiliation.”

In Florida, AIDS Healthcare Foundation serves more than 10,000 people living with HIV/AIDS through a variety of programs, including a statewide disease management program, testing and prevention programs, its AHF Magic Johnson Healthcare Center in Jacksonville, AHF Pharmacies and its recently launched Medicare Advantage Part D Special Needs program, ’Positive Healthcare Partners,’ serving Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. AHF recently opened an ‘Out of the Closet’ thrift Store in Wilton Manors, offering free HIV testing and treatment referral through an ‘AHF Pharmacy’ built adjacent to the store.

“As HIV infection rates continue to increase in virtually all population groups in Florida — among women of color, heterosexual men and women and gay men — AHF is dedicated to providing effective prevention, including free HIV testing, as well as high-quality medical care to those living with HIV/AIDS in the state,” said Michael Kahane, Bureau Chief, Southern Region, AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “I am inspired by all of the walkers and teams who, by signing up for Florida AIDS Walk this year, are demonstrating their commitment to supporting those living with the disease and to stopping the spread of HIV in Florida.”

To date, major sponsors of this year’s event include 97.9 FM WRMF, Sun-Sentinel, American Media Inc. (AMI), 97.3 The Coast and the Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA). Florida AIDS Walk is produced by Event 360.

About AHF

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the US’ largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare, research, prevention and education provider. AHF currently provides treatment, care and support services to more than 62,000 individuals in 20 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org