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Joe Looks Out for America's Youth Joe Manganiello is the total package. With film, television, and theatrical credits that include Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia, Spiderman, CSI:Miami, How I Met Your Mother, and A Streetcar Named Desire, he has delivered the goods as an action hero, town bully, bad guy, comedic goofball, and dramatic lead. A recurring role on CW's One Tree Hill has established a loyal following among teen viewers. Off-screen, Joe brings his depth of character and passion to a cause that affects us all. In partnership with the Until There's A Cure® (UTAC) Foundation, he raises awareness about the ongoing threat of HIV/AIDS.
"The disease has always affected people in my business. It's a topic of conversation, especially around the New York theater scene," Joe said. "But I was blown away when I heard the [current] statistics. It's still a big problem in this country."
"Some kids think they're invincible. They're not thinking that this could happen to them. Others might worry that they've done something wrong and are afraid to find out," Joe noted. "Getting tested is about being responsible for your actions. It's about knowing that you're clear so you won't harm yourself or others." UTAC supports youth-oriented awareness initiatives through an on-line educational toolkit. Together.Until.Org provides data on HIV/AIDS, age-appropriate medical information, and social network links for the We Are Together campaigns. Wristbands in black, red, pink, and green help students remember that AIDS is still out there. Wearing the band encourages them to adopt behaviors that keep them safe. Joe lends his celebrity to UTAC's public service advertising campaign and hopes that it has a positive effect on teens. "When they see the ad, they might think about my involvement in a project that they liked. Maybe that will get them to think about becoming aware," he said. "It's important. And it's the responsible thing to do." Join Joe in giving our youth their best chance to avoid this life-threatening disease. Buy and wear The Bracelet. Set an example. Spread the word... Until There's A Cure. * * * * * * * 1 http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/us.htm Download this story as a PDF file. » Home | Shop | Donate | Get Involved | Grants | Partnerships | Retail Program |
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Until There's A Cure Foundation |
An estimated 1.1 million persons in the United States live with diagnosed or undiagnosed HIV infection. A half million have already succumbed to the disease, and 56,000 enter its grasp every year.1 A large number of cases afflict persons who are least able to secure proper medical attention.
Joe's work on One Tree Hill makes him an ideal candidate to carry the message about HIV/AIDS to our youth. Fully one-third of persons newly infected with HIV are adolescents and young adults. Despite a focus on abstinence in many classrooms, 48% of high school teens report having had sexual intercourse at least once. Thirty-eight percent of sexually active students did not use a condom during their last sexual encounter. And only 13% of 9th to 12th grade students have ever been tested for HIV.2