BET Networks' Rap-It-Up HIV/AIDS Campaign Hits the Grambling University Campus to Host its Popular and Successful Celebrity Health Forum on April 24

BET Networks' Rap-It-Up HIV/AIDS Campaign Hits the Grambling University Campus to Host its Popular and Successful Celebrity Health Forum on April 24

WASHINGTON, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- BET Networks heads south with its renowned national HIV/AIDS public awareness initiative, Rap-It-Up, to host a celebrity health forum at famed Louisiana historically black college and university (HBCU), Grambling State University on Tuesday, April 24. Rap-It-Up will be hosting the event in partnership with the university and local radio stations, 91.5 FM and 103.1 FM. The purpose of the event will be to raise HIV/AIDS awareness, and also tackle the various social issues, behaviors and attitudes impacting today's young adults.

The Rap-It-Up celebrity health forum will take place on Tuesday, April 24 at 12:00 p.m. for all Grambling University students in the T.H. Harris Auditorium located on the Grambling State University campus. Serving as forum moderator will be comedian and former BET on-air personality Joe Clair, who will be joined by forum panelists: R&B artist Sammie, AIDS Advocate Denise Stokes, HIV/AIDS health educator Teresa Parker, and local 103.1 radio personality DJ Star. There will also be event giveaways and health materials made available to event attendees following the event.

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.

To date, BET's Rap-It-Up Campaign has tested over 11,800 people nationwide for HIV infection; managed over 1.1 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; distributed over 400,000 sexual health information guides; 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 celebrity health forum at Grambling State University:

DATE/TIME: Tuesday, April 24 from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
T.H. Harris Auditorium, Grambling State University,
03 Main Street, Grambling, LA 71245

AVAILABLE FOR
MEDIA INTERVIEWS: Forum moderator and panelists; BET Rap-It-Up staff;
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
celebrity health forum.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES: Coverage of celebrity health forum and performances;
interview and photo opportunities with BET Rap-It-Up
Representatives; forum panelists and event sponsors.

ABOUT RAP-IT-UP

Since 1998, the Kaiser Family Foundation and BET: Black Entertainment Television have partnered on a 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) 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 and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET Digital Networks - BET J, BET Gospel, and BET Hip-Hop - are brands that combine to 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. BET International delivers BET content to the consumers of Black culture around the world. BET Networks inspires its audiences to make a difference in their lives and communities with a series of impactful pro-social initiatives under the Touch BET umbrella.

http://www.bet.com/PR

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: BET Networks

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

Web site:

http://www.bet.com/

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