Annual 5k and beachside music festival set to raise $2 million for 13 local HIV/AIDS nonprofit organizations
Submitted Talia Horwich
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -– AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization, is partnering with entertainer Todrick Hall for the 19th Annual Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival, an annual spring break event that attracts more than 2,000 attendees and raises $2 million for 13 local nonprofit organizations providing HIV/AIDS services in the South Florida community.
Hall is a multi-talented entertainer who made his national debut as a contestant on American Idol. He went on to perform in various Broadway productions, starring in Kinky Boots and Chicago. Hall has collaborated with such recording artists as Taylor Swift, RuPaul, and Beyonce and has released several hit solo albums, including Straight Outta Oz, Forbidden, and Femuline.
“Todrick Hall has been an advocate for so many within the LGBTQIA+ community and will be an amazing spokesperson in helping both to raise funds for our beneficiaries as well as raise awareness of the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on the South Florida community,” said Tracy Jones, AHF Southern Bureau Chief.
Florida AIDS Walk and Music Festival also features informational booths on health and wellness services, children’s games, food trucks, and other family-focused activities. Singer/songwriter and international DJ/producer DJ Citizen Jane will warm up the crowd before the 5k walk and concert. iHeartRadio is the official radio partner, and iHeartRadio host Kimmy B will emcee the event.
WHEN: Saturday, March 9, 2024
TIME: 8:00 a.m. – Site opens
9:45 a.m. – Formal ceremony
10:00 a.m. – Walk starts
11:00 a.m. – Music Festival starts
WHERE: Fort Lauderdale Beach, 1100 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
REGISTRATION: www.FloridaAidsWalk.org.
2024 Beneficiaries: Afro Pride Florida, Aqua, Broward House, Equality Florida, Latinos Salud, The Pride Center at Equality Park, The McKenzie Project, Inc., Pridelines, Safe Schools South Florida, SAVE LGBTQ, SunServe, Transinclusive, and World AIDS Museum and Educational Center.
About HIV/AIDS in Florida according to recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
*Florida ranks in the top five states in the number of new HIV diagnoses
*Three Florida cities made the nation’s top 15 when it comes to the number of people living with HIV. Miami is at the top of the list. Jacksonville and Orlando hold the 10th and 11th spots, respectively
*Broward is the number one county in Florida with the most new HIV diagnoses. Miami-Dade County is number three.
About AHF:
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.9 million individuals in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to our After Hours podcast.
