We’re at South by Southwest! Lifebeat will be providing safer sex information and free condoms at events at SXSW; locations TBA soon! Check back with us later for more information.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is on February 7^th

Each year in the US, approximately 21,000 Blacks become infected with HIV. By the end of 2008, an estimated 240,627 Blacks with an AIDS diagnosis had died in the US, that’s nearly 40% of total AIDS related deaths. In addition to using condoms and discussing a partner’s status, the key to reducing HIV transmission rates is getting tested. Medical treatment can help lower HIV viral load and might also reduce risk for transmission to others, early referral to medical care can prevent HIV transmission in communities while reducing a person’s risk for HIV-related illness and death.  Save a Life; It May Be Your Own. Play Safe and Get tested for HIV.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Join Lifebeat, recording artists and our music and media partners and help us raise awareness on February 7.

Post and promote the attached messaging and content to your homepage, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

TWITTER

PLS RT AIDS isn’t over. Know your status. Get tested. Today is National Black HIV/AIDS awareness day. @LifebeatDotOrg # National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Get tested. Knowing your status can save your life or your partner’s. @LifebeatDotOrg # National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

HIV is now the third leading cause of death in black men and women aged 35 to 44. Get tested. AIDS isn’t over. @LifebeatDotOrg # National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Protect your partner and yourself, get tested for HIV. @LifebeatDotOrg # National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Sixty-five percent of HIV-infected newborns are black, the CDC reports. AIDS isn’t over. Know your status. @LifebeatDotOrg # National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

FACEBOOK

Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.  Make the day count. Get tested. Know your status so you can stay safe and take care of those around you. AIDS isn’t over. Learn more from @Lifebeat

In Washington D.C, which has the nation’s highest district HIV prevalence (3 percent), three-quarters of those infected with HIV are African American. Learn more from @Lifebeat

African Americans make up 70% of new HIV diagnoses among teenagers. Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Get tested. Know your status. Learn more from @Lifebeat.

Nationally, Black women account for 66% of new cases of HIV among women. Get tested. Know your status. Learn more from @Lifebeat

The estimated rate of new HIV infection for black men was more than 6 and a half times as high as that of white men, and two and a half times as high as that of Latino men or black women. AIDS isn’t over. Learn more from @Lifebeat

Mary J. Blige performs “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman” at UrbanAID.

Mary J. Blige has been a supporter of Lifebeat since 1995, when she performed at the Urban Aid 4 Lifebeat concert featuring Notorious B.I.G., Run DMC, Wu-Tang Clan, Heavy D and more.

In 2007, she again took the stage for Lifebeat, performing at Live Beats honoring BET’s Stephen Hill.

She continues to support Lifebeat throughout the years by donating items to the annual Bid 2 Beat AIDS eBay auction, and by regularly attending Lifebeat’s fundraising events.

Mary J. Blige throws it down at the Live Beats event in 2007.

She performed at Lifebeat’s UrbanAID 2 concert in 2001, alongside Jay-Z, Diddy and more, also recording a Public Service Announcement for Lifebeat that year.

Keys continues to support Lifebeat through donations to the annual Bid 2 Beat AIDS eBay auction. She is the co-founder and Global Ambassador of Keep a Child Alive, a charity that provides first class AIDS care, treatment, surrounding support and food for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

Alicia Keys performs at Lifebeat's UrbanAID 2 concert.

Salt-N-Pepa perform a medley of their hits at UrbanAID in 1995.

Hip hop legends Salt-N-Pepa have supported Lifebeat from the very beginning of the organization.

In June of 1992, the first ladies of hip hop performed at the very first Lifebeat fundraising concert at Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan, headlining along with the Pet Shop Boys.

In October 1995, Salt-N-Pepa performed at the first UrbanAID at Madison Square Garden along with the Wu-Tang Clan, Naughty by Nature, Run-D.M.C., the Notorious B.I.G., Craig Mack, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Fat Joe, Jodeci, Mary J. Blige and Brandy.

In 2007, Lifebeat was featured on an episode of The Salt-N-Pepa show on Vh1. The girls recorded a new PSA for Lifebeat during the show as well.

Lifebeat hosted the official book launch party in 2008 for Let’s Talk About Pep, Sandy “Pepa” Denton’s autobiography, at HOME nightclub in NYC. The evening was a fundraiser for Lifebeat.

In February 2011, Lifebeat teamed up with Salt-N-Pepa once again, conducting outreach to distribute condoms and safer sex information and educate fans at stops on the Legends of Hip-Hip Tour they headlined.

Three time Grammy Award-winner Seal was a major supporter of Lifebeat at some of our largest signature events in the 1990′s. He headlined The Beat Goes On concert in 1994, along with Melissa Etheridge, k.d. lang, and more. Later that year, he participated in CounterAID, a national week-long fundraising campaign of in-store events by major music artists.

In 1996, Seal performed again for Lifebeat at BoardAID, an outdoor concert and winter sports festival featuring demonstrations from top pros on the skateboard halfpipe and snowboard halfpipe and other snow events.

Grammy Award-winning artist Seal at the Lifebeat CounterAID event in 1994.

In 1994, she co-hosted The Beat Goes On concert, featuring Sarah McLachlan, Melissa Etheridge, k. d. lang, Seal, and more. Later that year, she co-hosted� CounterAID, a national week-long fundraising campaign of in-store events by major music artists.

In 1996, Veronica was a co-host of BoardAID, an outdoor concert and winter sports festival featuring demonstrations from top pros on the skateboard halfpipe and snowboard halfpipe and other snow events.

Veronica continued to support Lifebeat through the mid-2000s as Lifebeat Board Member and helping to organize many events and fundraisers, as well as recording�HIV/AIDS Public Service Announcements.

She continues to support Lifebeat to this day by donating items to Lifebeat auctions, such as Bid 2 Beat AIDS, the annual 10-day eBay auction starting on December 1st, World AIDS Day.

Jay-Z and Veronica Webb at a Lifebeat event

Ricki Lake & Veronica Webb at CounterAID

Beyonce has been a supporter of Lifebeat’s mission since her days as lead singer of Destiny’s Child, and she continues to attend and support Lifebeat events.

Beyonce performed along with Destiny’s Child at the 1999 World AIDS Day Music With a Message concert alongside ‘N Sync, Wyclef Jean and Monica.

In 2002, Destiny’s Child made a surprise visit to a pediatric AIDS facility with Lifebeat’s Hearts & Voices program and sang Christmas carols to the children.

In 2007, Beyonce supported former bandmate Kelly Rowland‘s album release fundraiser to benefit Lifebeat.

Beyonce invited Lifebeat’s Tour Outreach program to participate on her Summer 2009 I Am… tour to distribute safer sex materials and prevention information to concertgoers.

She continues to support Lifebeat by donating several items to Lifebeat’s annual Bid 2 Beat AIDS eBay memorabilia auction.

Destiny's Child spreading the love with Lifebeat at a Children's AIDS Facility in December 2002

Beyonce shows love for "Ms. Kelly" and Lifebeat at Kelly Rowland's album release party

In 1999, he donated $100,000 to Lifebeat, raised by adding a 25-cent surcharge to ticket prices to the All Rod… All Night tour.

In 2004, Rod again supported Lifebeat with a donation of proceeds from his Great American Songbook tour.

Rod Stewart presents a check for $100,000 to Lifebeat's then Executive Director and current Board member, Tim Rosta in 1999