-- Celebrities, media and community leaders to commemorate National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, launch of AHF's Black AIDS Crisis Taskforce (ABACT) at exclusive Grammy-weekend Beverly Hills brunch --

(BLACK PR WIRE)--LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, will commemorate National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and officially announce its Black AIDS Crisis Taskforce (ABACT) at a private champagne brunch and celebrity media event on February 7th, 2015 at 12 p.m. at H.O.M.E. Beverly Hills, located at 430 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, 90210. In collaboration with celebrities and prominent cultural influencers, ABACT will draw attention to national African-American infection rates, the need for intensified efforts to connect African-Americans living with HIV to medical care and support, and encourage community leaders and influential members of the African-American community to join ABACT in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS.

WHAT:
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (http://www.aidshealth.org) to host an exclusive champagne brunch and media event to kick off an annual commemoration of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and officially launch its Black AIDS Crisis Taskforce (ABACT)

WHEN:
Saturday, February 7th, 2015
12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
**RED CARPET FROM 12 – 1:00 p.m.**

WHERE:
H.O.M.E. Beverly Hills
430 North Camden Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

WHO:
• Jussie Smollett, FOX Empire star
• Ledisi, 2015 Grammy-nominated singer
• B. Slade, 2015 Grammy-nominated songwriter and singer
• Yolanda Adams, Grammy-award winning singer, radio host and ABACT partner
• Robi Reed, Emmy Award-winning casting director and producer and ABACT partner
• Karen Civil (host), social media entrepreneur and AHF Brand Ambassador
• Johnny Wright (host), BET International red carpet correspondent and hairstylist to First Lady Michelle Obama
• Angela Yee (panel moderator), Power 105 “The Breakfast Club” host and AHF Brand Ambassador
• Hydeia Broadbent (panelist), HIV-positive activist and AHF Brand Ambassador
• Shannon Boodram (panelist), BET Rap-It-Up sex expert and author
• Pastor Kelvin Sauls, Holman United Methodist Church
• Kordale and Kaleb Lewis, stars of “Hot Gay Dads” viral Instagram photo and Nikon “I Am Generation Image” commercial
• Antonique Smith, singer
• The Diva Foundation
• Southern California Chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Introducing ABACT – AHF’s Black AIDS Crisis Taskforce:

With locations in over 36 countries—including the U.S., Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Liberia, and Sierra Leone—the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the world’s largest global AIDS organization, providing medical care and/or services to more than 372,000 individuals around the globe. In addition to promoting STD/HIV prevention, testing and treatment regardless of one’s availability to pay through its international network of healthcare centers, AHF pharmacies and mobile testing units, AHF is committed to being a global voice for sexual health and wellness through ongoing media and public awareness campaigns that grab attention and authentically connect with target audiences.

ABACT (the AHF Black AIDS Crisis Taskforce) is an initiative by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to create a coalition of African American health advocates and cultural influencers who will individually promote sexual responsibility and collectively help combat HIV/AIDS stigma in the African-American community. By connecting and empowering key leaders in medicine, religion, sports, politics, business and entertainment to incorporate HIV/STD prevention and treatment messages into their public lives, ABACT members and supporters will speak directly to African-American families—and young people in particular—to provide tailored, audience-appropriate messages on sexual health and encourage community-wide support of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

PLEASE RSVP BY FEB. 6th to Christopher Johnson, AHF Associate Director of Communications, at Christopher.Johnson@aidshealth.org or 310.880.9913.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to nearly 367,000 individuals in 36 countries worldwide in the US, 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 on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150204005311/en/

Source: AIDS Healthcare Foundation