NorthPark Professional Building

Jackson North Hospital

100 N.W. 170^th Street, Suite 305      

N. Miami Beach FL 33169                                                            (305) 405-0045

Who:               Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Chairman & Founder, The Magic Johnson Foundation

Towalome Austin, President, The Magic Johnson Foundation

Deborah Holmes, MD, Medical Director, Magic Johnson Healthcare Center/North Miami

Michael Weinstein, President, AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Scott Galvin, AIDS Healthcare Foundation Board Member and City of North Miami City Council Member, District #1

Michael Kahane, AHF Bureau Chief, Southern Region, US

CONTACTS:            Ged Kenslea, AHF Communications Director   323.308.1833 or mobile 323.791.5526

                                    Tammy Warren, Senior Director of Publicity, Magic Johnson Foundation 310.247.2033

MIAMI AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization which operates free AIDS treatment clinics in the US, Africa, Central America and Asia, is pleased to announce that NBA legend and successful entrepreneur, Earvin “Magic” Johnson will officially dedicate and tour a state-of-the-art AIDS Healthcare Center serving people throughout Miami that is named in his honor. The healthcare center is at 100 N.W. 170^th  (N. Miami Beach, FL 33169) on the campus of Jackson North Hospital. The Dedication Ceremony will be held in suite 305.  The Center will be formally dedicated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, May 4^th at 2:00 pm. The Center provides HIV/AIDS medical care and offers a full range of pharmacy services to its patients through the adjacent AHF Pharmacy in an easily accessible, community-based setting. The facility is officially known as the AHF Magic Johnson Healthcare Center/Miami, and is the fifth such clinic partnership between AHF and Mr. Johnson including similar centers in Jacksonville, as well as three facilities in California: in Oakland, San Francisco and South Los Angeles. Street, Suite 208,

“It feels good to know that my passion to serve Urban America has not gone unnoticed,” said Johnson, Chairman and Founder of the Magic Johnson Foundation. “AIDS Healthcare Foundation is a wonderful partner, and I look forward to continuing our efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS.”

“We are honored to officially dedicate this new North Miami AHF clinic named in partnership with, and in honor of Magic Johnson,” said Michael Weinstein, AHF President. “This healthcare center offers us a tremendous opportunity to provide quality HIV/AIDS care and significant outreach to some underserved populations in greater Miami, and I thank Magic for lending both his name and his tremendous goodwill and support to this important new community health venture in South Florida.”

“It is a privilege to have Magic Johnson celebrate with us today as a partner in this newest AHF clinic,” said Deborah Holmes, MD, Medical Director for the North Miami Beach center.  “All of our AHF Healthcare Centers provide advanced medical care designed specifically for HIV-positive clients, staffed with healthcare providers who are knowledgeable about up-to-the-minute developments in HIV medical care. We also provide clients with access to additional specialists, medications and services they may need to be as healthy as possible. With this latest high profile support from Magic, people who may be in need of care and services but for whatever reason, may not be in treatment, will feel welcome at this health care center.”

“As at all of our health care centers, this AHF Magic Johnson Healthcare Center in North Miami will provide care and services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay,” said Michael Kahane, AHF Bureau Chief, Southern Region. “In addition, patients as well as the general public can easily access a full range of pharmacy services via the adjacent AHF Pharmacy at the facility.”

African Americans and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States

According to “Black Americans and HIV/AIDS,” the Kaiser Family Foundation’s September 2009 Fact Sheet:

“Black Americans have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS since the epidemic’s beginning, and that disparity has deepened over time…

        The epidemic has also had a disproportionate impact on Black women, youth, and gay and bisexual men, and its impact varies across the country.         Moreover, Blacks with HIV/AIDS may face greater barriers to accessing care than their white counterparts.

        Today, there are approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S, including more than 500,000 who are Black…

        Estimated AIDS prevalence among Blacks is clustered in a handful of states, with 10 states accounting for 71% of Blacks estimated to be living with AIDS in 2007. New York, Florida, and Georgia top the list.

The data suggest that African Americans are often diagnosed in later stages of the disease and therefore are not accessing early, potentially lifesaving care and treatment as is offered at this Magic Johnson Healthcare Center. Due to its location, the AHF Magic Johnson Healthcare Center in North Miami Beach is in a unique position to better reach out to and serve a potentially high-risk, largely minority population.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation currently operates 71 healthcare centers in 23 countries around the world. 18 of these are in the US¾in Florida, California and Washington, DC. This North Miami Beach center, which first began treating patients in August 2008, is one of five known as AHF Magic Johnson Healthcare Centers. The four other AHF facilities named in honor of the HIV positive basketball legend are located in Jacksonville, FL (opened in October 2001); Oakland, CA (opened July 2000); in the West Adams District of Los Angeles (opened in May 2001); and San Francisco, CA (opened September 2002).

This latest AHF “Magic” Johnson Healthcare Center is located on the campus of Jackson North Hospital at 100 N.W. 170^th Street, Suite 208 N. Miami Beach, FL, 33169; telephone (305) 405-0045. The medical director for this facility is Deborah Holmes, M.D.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Healthcare Centers provide state-of-the-art out-patient medical services to maximize the health and well-being of persons living at all stages of HIV disease regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Each facility provides medical programs tailored to the specific needs of asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV/AIDS individuals from qualified medical and support professionals.

Services at AHF’s Healthcare Centers include initial screening, on-going monitoring and laboratory work, aggressive management of HIV/AIDS with combined drug therapies, and access (for those who may choose) to clinical research trials. Other services include public benefits counseling and advocacy, mental health counseling and 24-hour access to medical advice.

About the Magic Johnson Foundation (MJF)

The Magic Johnson Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, was established in 1991 to raise funds for community-based organizations focused on HIV/AIDS education and prevention. The Foundation works to develop programs and provide services that address the broader educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities throughout the nation. For more information, log onto www.magicjohnson.org  

Our Mission

The Magic Johnson Foundation (AHF) is committed to improving the quality of life for people residing in urban communities.  The MJF feels strongly that all individuals can succeed given access to the appropriate resources.  We are committed to providing education and testing in the areas of health, information pertaining to scholarships, finance, entrepreneurship and technology access to bridge the digital divide.   We will serve as the conduit to deliver the much needed partnerships, programs and resources that others cannot or will not deliver to these communities.   It is our hope that our efforts will serve as a call to action to encourage other foundations, corporations, civic organizations and individuals to join us in this most worthy cause to empower families. 

About AIDS Healthcare Foundation

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 130,000 individuals in 23 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org

In Florida, AIDS Healthcare Foundation serves more than 15,000 people living with HIV/AIDS through a variety of programs, including Positive Healthcare (a statewide disease management program), Positive Healthcare Managed Care, testing and prevention programs, healthcare centers in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Jacksonville and AHF Pharmacies in Miami (2 locations), Ft. Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, and other locations throughout the State. AHF’s Out of the Closet Thrift Stores in Wilton Manors and Miami at Biscayne and 29^th Street offers free HIV testing and treatment referral through an AHF Pharmacy built adjacent to the store, while the NorthPoint, North Miami Beach and Jacksonville health centers have AHF Pharmacies in or adjacent to the health care centers.  AHF also offers free sexual health screenings and treatment at its Men’s Wellness Centers located in N. Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale.

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