BET's Rap-It-Up Partners with Laila Ali to Bring Award-Winning Campaign to Atlanta February 5 - 12

BET's Rap-It-Up Partners with Laila Ali to Bring Award-Winning Campaign to Atlanta February 5 - 12

Rap-It-Up Joins Absoloot Awarenesss Foundation and Outreach Inc. to Educate Young Adults about HIV/AIDS

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Rap-It-Up, BET's award-winning, national grassroots campaign heads to the city of Atlanta to host a series of community events to educate the public about the devastating affects of HIV/AIDS. Throughout the week's events, Rap-It-Up will partner with the Absoloot Awareness Foundation (AFF) and Outreach, Inc. to effectively disseminate pertinent information to young adults about sexual health issues, specifically HIV/AIDS, and to encourage African Americans to get tested.

Kicking off the series of BET-sponsored events is the ABSOLOOT & Rap-It-Up Awareness Rally on Saturday, February 5 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Greenbriar Mall located on 2841 Greenbriar Parkway SW in Atlanta. Rap-It-Up and Outreach, Inc. will administer free onsite HIV testing and local FM radio stations, 97.1 JAMZ, KISS 104.1 and V103 will broadcast LIVE from the event to encourage listeners to get tested, visit the community booths, and enjoy the free entertainment.

Triple Crown Super Middleweight Champion, Laila Ali will be on hand to sign her book, "Reach" on the main stage from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. and to educate the youth about healthy living. "We believe it is important for our community to be aware of the dangers of risky sexual behavior and an unhealthy lifestyle," jointly stated AAF co-founders, Laila Ali and her husband, Yahya McClain. "We are happy to partner with BET's Rap-It-Up in community events such as these in order to promote public awareness about HIV/AIDS and obesity- related issues."

The Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia Inc., Partners Against Domestic Violence and the Atlanta Work Force are among just some of the community organizations that will be on hand distributing important information to event attendees at Saturday's event. Ms. Cherry, Rashaun, N Motion Dance Studio, Slick & Rose, the Campbell middle school choir; and the Divine Essence Step Team are just some of the acts expected to perform; and Miss Black Georgia will also be available to sign autographs.

On Monday, February 7, BET's Rap-It-Up will host a teen health forum for the students of Redan High School located on 5247 Redan Road, Stone Mountain, GA from 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Actor and comedian Joe Clair is the forum moderator and will be joined by a panel of celebrities, health educators and AIDS activists to talk to students about various social issues affecting youth today. Celebrity panelists include boxing champion, Laila Ali; Atlanta rap group, Trillville; Cash Money's Gotti; Ms. Cherry; and Mia X among others.

On Wednesday, February 9, Rap-It-Up heads to the historic Clark Atlanta University campus to conduct free onsite HIV testing with Outreach, Inc. in the Henderson Student Center from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rapper Rasheeda will be joined by a local radio station, 97.1 Jamz on campus to disseminate sexual health information and encourage students to get tested.

Following the HIV testing will be a special film screening of the short film, "Walking on Sunshine," which is the 2004 winner of BET's RIU/BASS film competition and nominated for a 2005 NAACP Image Award. The screening will be held in Clark Atlanta University's Henderson Student Center from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. and rapper Rasheeda, AIDS Activist Denise Stokes and Outreach, Inc's Sandra McDonald will engage students in discussion following the screening. Atlanta's own Jarvis, Baby D, Franchise and a recording artist from Cash Money's Gotti will also meet and greet with students.

On Friday, February 11, ESPN's Friday Night Fights will telecast the BEATDOWN Part II LIVE from Atlanta's Phillips Arena featuring Laila "She Bee Stingin" Ali (19-0, 16 KOs), who will be defending her WIBA Super Middleweight Title against Cassandra Geigger in a 10-round main event.

The pre-fight concert begins at 6:45 p.m. and BET's popular sports program, MADD SPORTS will be onsite to tape the event. Cash Money's Gotti will host the pre-fight bash, and there will be performances by Street Wize Recordz' Ms. Cherry, Brooke Valentine, Xscape, Gucci Mane, Urban Mystic and Tango Redd.

Concluding the series of events will be the BEATDOWN celebrity b-ball game presented by ABSOLOOT Entertainment and Streetwize Recordz on Saturday, February 12 at the Ben Hill Recreation Center located on 2405 Fairburn Road in Atlanta. Starting at 4:30 p.m., BET's Rap-It-Up and Outreach, Inc will be distributing sexual health information; and BET's MADD SPORTS and Atlanta UPN Tonight will be onsite to shoot footage of the game. Celebrity players include Laila Ali, Young Bloodz, Khujo Goodie, TMO Goodie, Jacksonville Jaguars' Juran Bolden & Deon Grant, Greenbay Packers' Hannibal Navies, Cash Money's Gotti, Rasheeda, Crime Mob, The Big OOMPH Camp and Franchise among others.

African Americans are disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Georgia. In 2002, African Americans accounted for 75% of Georgia's reported AIDS cases, yet only make up 28% of the state's total population. "BET's Rap-It-Up is committed to educating its viewers and the community about the devastating affects on HIV/AIDS in the Black community," stated Vikki Johnson, BET's Manager of Public Affairs. "We are excited to have the opportunity to bring our HIV/AIDS campaign to Atlanta and hope through our community outreach we may be able to curb risky sexual behaviors associated with contracting this deadly disease."

ABOUT BET

BET, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA; VIA.B), is the nation's leading television network providing quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs programming for the African-American audience. The BET Network reaches more than 79 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET is a dominant consumer brand in the urban marketplace with a diverse group of branded businesses: BET.com, the Number 1 Internet portal for African Americans; BET Digital Networks -- BET Jazz, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, specializing in a full range of event production services, including event management, venue selection, talent recruitment, sound, lighting and stage production; and BET Books, the nation's leading publisher of African-American themed romance novels under the Arabesque imprint which also publishes compelling fiction under the Sepia imprint and inspirational fiction and nonfiction under the New Spirit imprint.

ABOUT ABSOLOOT AWARENESS FOUNDATION

The mission of the Absoloot Awareness Foundation is to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for today's youth by targeting obesity and providing HIV/AIDS Awareness. There is an obesity epidemic in the United States. Obesity is one of the fastest growing causes of preventable disease and death. The percentage of overweight children is growing at a rapid rate. AAF's Youth Nutrition and Physical Education Program will empower the youth by providing proper information addressing obesity and overweight. With a balanced healthy diet and increased physical activity, youth are taught to make informed health-conscious decisions. AAF HIV/AIDS Awareness Youth Program will provide culturally sensitive HIV/AIDS education and prevention information to at-risk youth. AAF is dedicated to raising the awareness to the threat of the HIV/AIDS virus in our communities.


Source: BET (Black Entertainment Television)

CONTACT: Lyntina Townsend of BET, +1-202-608-2745, or
lyntina.townsend@bet.net

Web site: http://www.bet.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Media Opportunities: Absoloot Awareness Rally; Rap-It- Up Teen Forum; HIV Testing and Film Screening at Clark Atlanta University; Interview and photo opportunities with Laila Ali, Celebrity Attendees, Event Partners and Rap-It-Up Representatives For information on obtaining media credentials to cover Absoloot Entertainment,Laila Ali-sponsored events, please contact Renee Atkins, Marketing & Promotions Director at 770-944-7816 or email requests to lailaalibeatdown@yahoo.com Please email requests for media credentials to cover BET-sponsored events by Friday, February 4th to: Lyntina.Townsend@bet.net or call, 202-276-8830.

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