AIDS Health Foundation (AHF):Taking the Fight Locally
By Dale Madison
When Mark Martin was tapped in December 2010 to take over the local branch of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), he knew there were some pretty big shoes he had to fill. His predecessor, Mark Bode, was recognized for doing an amazing job in opening the Out of the Closet Thrift Store in Wilton Manors, and was well on his way to the second Broward County store on East Sunrise Boulevard.
Suddenly, Bode made the decision to move back west to be near his family, and Martin was moved up to Regional Director of Community Relations and Development. Now at the helm for nearly two years, Martin is preparing for his group’s Seventh Annual Florida AIDS Walk, Sunday, May 20, beginning at South Beach Park on Fort Lauderdale Beach. “When I took over, I tried to analyze every aspect of the organization,” says Martin. One of the first things he analyzed was the dynamics of the Florida AIDS Walk.
“While Bode had the vision of a 10-K walk, I listened to many of the participants and many of them said that it was just too long of a trek from Las Olas [Boulevard] up to the beach and then back. That’s why this year, it will be a 5K walk,” notes Martin. He also decided that the event needed more curb appeal.
“I heard that there was not enough—for lack of a better word—‘celebration’ for the day. This year, I am making an effort to make it more entertaining,” he added. “It’s going to be much different this year. Working with the City of Fort Lauderdale, we have a stage on the beach. It’s gonna be a kick.” While AHF is a nationwide foundation, “One hundred percent of the money raised by Florida AIDS Walk stay in Florida,” according to Martin.
“Florida is ground zero [for the HIV/AIDS epidemic], and it is my mission right now to make everyone aware of this fact. Broward County has the dubious distinction of being number one in new teen infections. As an organization, we have three testing vans that are out in the community holding testings for HIV/AIDS. Unlike some organizations, we help to get counseling for anyone testing positive.”
In December 2010, AHF donated over $1 million in Broward County as a direct result of the Florida AIDS Walk. While Martin wouldn’t reveal the name of this year’s top entertainment performer, he did mention that Miami’s Y-100 radio station and IHeartRadio’s DJ Elvis Duran will be onstage this year. With two Broward locations and two Miami-Dade locations, AHF’s Out of the Closet Thrift Stores are continuing raising money and awareness for the cause of HIV/ AIDS treatment and prevention.
The organization just announced that they have opened their first store in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. When the Florida AIDS Walk kicks off on Sunday, the event will include a special walled area for refreshments.
“We have done this special area to protect sea turtle nesting that’s in the area,” Martin says. In addition to AHF, this year’s Florida AIDS Walk will benefit Broward House, the Center for Positive Connections, the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Latinos Salud, Minority Development and Empowerment, Inc., the Pride Center at Equality Park, South Beach AIDS Project, and SunServe.
For those interested organizing a team or walking as individuals, and for more information, visit floridaaidswalk.org.