BET Networks' Award-Winning Rap-It-Up HIV/AIDS Campaign Blazes Through Gainesville, Florida to Host HIV-Focused Events on January 26 And 27

BET Networks' Award-Winning Rap-It-Up HIV/AIDS Campaign Blazes Through Gainesville, Florida to Host HIV-Focused Events on January 26 And 27

BET Networks' esteemed national HIV/AIDS public awareness initiative, Rap- It-Up heads to Gainesville, Florida to host a variety of HIV/AIDS-focused events, including a celebrity health forum at Eastside High School on Saturday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m. Rap-It-Up will be hosting the various events in partnership with the City of Gainesville and local radio station, 101.3. The various Rap-It-Up events will specifically address the social issues, sexual behavior and attitudes impacting today's young adults; and the rise of HIV/AIDS in the urban community.

Kicking off the schedule of Rap-It-Up activities will be a PRIVATE local Rap-It-Up city tour featuring R&B singer Sammie, who will make special appearances at various community-based organizations throughout Gainesville on Friday, January 26. Tour stops will include the PACE Center For Girls at 10:00 a.m., where the young singer will motivate and encourage the young women on a variety of social issues; and a 1:30 p.m. appearance at the Lincoln Middle School to do a meet and great with students (*all tour stops are private and not open to the public).

Following the Rap-It-Up city tour will be the celebrity health forum on Saturday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m. at Eastside High School located on 1201 Southeast 43rd Street, Gainesville, Fl 32641. Serving as forum moderator will be BET on-air personality Lamorne (host of BET's HOTWYRED) and joining him will be forum panelists: gospel phenomenon and former American Idol finalist George Huff; AIDS Advocate Denise Stokes; Adolescent Medical Specialist Dr. Gerri Dyson, a local 101.3 radio personality; and health/peer educators. There will be a special performance following the forum along with health materials and giveaways made available to distribution for event attendees (*the celebrity health forum is not open to the public).

Today's disturbing statistics have shown that African Americans account for the most AIDS diagnoses, people estimated to be living with AIDS, and HIV- related deaths than any other racial group within the United States. Presently, African-American women account for 67 percent of new AIDS cases among women, and 55 percent of newly reported AIDS cases among African Americans have occurred in the South. Although African-American teens (ages 13 - 19) represent only 15 percent of U.S. teens, they accounted for 66 percent of newly-reported AIDS cases in 2003.

Since its launch in 1997, BET's Rap-It-Up Campaign has tested over 8,500 people nationwide for HIV infection; managed over one million calls to the Rap-It-Up toll-free hotline; hosted community teen forums for over 10,000 youth in over 33 U.S. cities; and reached millions of viewers via HIV-related programming on the BET Network, including award-winning news specials, documentaries and public service announcements.

Here are more details about the BET Rap-It-Up activities in Gainesville, Florida open to media:

EVENTS & Rap-It-Up City Tour Stops Featuring R&B artist Sammie:
DATE/TIMES: * Pace Center For Girls, 1010 SE 4th Avenue, Gainesville,
Fl 32601, Jan. 26 at 10:00 a.m.
* Lincoln Middle School, 1001 SE 12th Street, Gainesville,
Fl 32641, Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m.

Celebrity Health Forum
Eastside High School 1201 Southeast 43rd Street
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

AVAILABLE
FOR MEDIA
INTERVIEWS: Celebrities Sammie and George Huff; forum moderator
Lamorne, forum panelists and event sponsors -- please
call (202) 608-2745, 202/ 276-8830 or email
Lyntina.Townsend@bet.net to request access to cover
BET's Rap-It-Up activities.

MEDIA
OPPORTUNITIES: Coverage of Rap-It-Up tour stops (2); Celebrity Health
Forum and Performances; Interview and Photo Opportunities
with BET Rap-It-Up Representatives, Forum Panelists and
Performing Talent.

ABOUT RAP-IT-UP

Since 1998, the Kaiser Family Foundation and BET Networks have partnered on an extensive public education campaign to inform young people about sexual health issues, including HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs). The partnership includes special programming, public service advertisements (PSAs), online content on bet.com, and a free resource and referral service. In 2000, the campaign launched a grassroots initiative to complement the on-air and online components of Rap-It-Up. Program elements include teen forums, mobile HIV testing events, and middle and high school curricula about HIV/AIDS. The campaign has received numerous awards, including 10 Cable Positive POP Awards, a 2005 NAACP Image Award Nomination for "Walking on Sunshine," the 2002 CTPAA Joel Berger Award, and the 2002 Academy of Television Arts & Science TV Cares "Ribbon of Hope" Award. Additionally, the campaign has received 3 Emmy nominations for Best National Public Service Announcements (2002/2003, 2003/2004, and 2004/2005).

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:and)(NYSE:VIA.B), is the leading provider of media and entertainment for African Americans and consumers of Black culture on a global basis. The primary BET cable network reaches more than 84 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET Digital Networks -- BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop -- serve a broader and more diverse audience than the core network. BET.com is the number one internet destination for the target audiences. BET Mobile delivers music, gaming, and video content to the target audiences on wireless devices across virtually all service providers. BET Event Productions is a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe. Finally, BET International delivers BET content to the consumers of Black culture around the world.

http://www.bet.com/PR

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

PRNewswire -- Jan. 18

Source: BET Networks

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

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