June 4, 2008 – (Washington, DC) WPGC radio
personality, Big Tigger kicked off his 7th Annual Celebrity Classic event this evening at Shiloh Baptist Church with a Town Hall Meeting
to discuss AIDS and HIV.
Reports claim Washington, D.C. rates number one
in AIDS cases of any medium sized metropolitan city.
Big Tigger wants to use his celebrity status to
change that dynamic by providing awareness, education, and prevention.
The town hall meeting, broadcast live on WPGC 95.5
during the 6-9 pm air slot, hosted a panel that knows all too well about the hold the virus has on the city.
From risky behavior, to being misinformed (or not
informed at all) about the virus that causes AIDS, were some of the reasons the panel cited for the apparent epidemic.
“One in 100 people, ages 13-24, is infected
or has AIDS”, said D.C. Mayor, Adrian Fenty.
“A lot of people don’t know they have
it.”
Other panelists included Dr. Shannan Hader, Director
of HIV/AIDS Administration; former youth pastor/BET personality, Jeff Johnson; Councilman Harry Thomas; Brenda Larkin, Vaccine Research Center; and Haydiea Broadworth, a youth
who contracted the virus at age three via her mother, an intravenous drug user.
“Talk to your kids about sex, and not
just once”, said Broadworth.
“Get involved in your child’s life.”
An HIV testing initiative was held earlier in the
day and continues at the Trinidad Recreation Center from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Other events planned for the weekend-long event
include a youth sports clinic, and a celebrity basketball game at University of the District of Columbia, all to raise funds
for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.
Celebrities scheduled to participate include Wizards' Caron Butler, Roger Mason, Jr., and DeShawn Stevenson; Redskins' Fred Smoot,
Santana Moss, and Clinton Portis; Baltimore Ravens' Willis McGahee, and
others.
For more info visit www.bigtigweekend.net.
Related
AIDS
Prevention: Safe Sex Boxers – www.safesexboxers.com
More AIDS/HIV info.
Town Hall Meeting photos.
Follow the action: >> Celebrity Youth Clinic
