Tom Joyner Foundation to Distribute $510,000 Grant to Promote HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse Awareness

Dallas, TX, July 10, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The Tom Joyner Foundation will help promote awareness on HIV/AIDS and substance abuse at six black colleges as part of a $510,000 federal grant.

Each historically black colleges and university (HBCUs) will receive $85,000 from the Substance Abuse Mental health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Prevention's (SAMHSA/CSAP) Minority Education Institution (MEI) Initiative. The agency will be responsible for conducting the HIV and substance abuse awareness projects.

The following campuses will be participating this year: PrairieView A&M University, Prairie View, TX; Southern University of Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, LA; Howard University, Washington, DC; VirginiaUnion University, Richmond, VA; Savannah State University, Savannah, GA.

“HIV/AIDS and substance abuse are issues that can not be ignored,” said Tom Joyner, who created the Foundation and whose four-hour drive-time show is heard in 115 markets and heard by more than eight million listeners. “We want to keep our students at black colleges fully informed about all aspects of life – not just what they learn in class.”

Beverly Watts Davis, senior advisor, Office of the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), said the partnership with the Tom Joyner Foundation has been critical in helping to raise awareness among black college students. "Everyday is a day when you can get tested," Davis said, "It's not a once a year event. ... It's a message we need to get to all of our children. We want to help them to aware of their behavior and to be safer with their behavior."

Since the partnership started in 2005, Davis said that more than 15,000 students have been tested, more than 970 students have become peer educators. "Getting tested for HIV/AIDS should be a part of everyone's standard care," Davis added.

The Tom Joyner Foundation, founded by Joyner in 1998, is responsible for raising more $55 million dollars and helping some 40 colleges and thousands of deserving students. Each month, Joyner raises money for a specific historically black college and helps students currently attending that school.

Joyner, a graduate of Tuskegee Institute now, University, has been highly recognized by industry and community groups for the work he has done during the more than 25 years in radio. Joyner not only was inducted into the prestigious Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, but he also received the Marconi Award from the National Association of Broadcasters’ as the top nationally syndicated/network radio personality. Joyner’s sons are also graduates of black colleges: Thomas Jr., Howard University and Oscar, Florida A&M University.

For more details about the foundation visit them at BlackAmericaWeb.com For additional information, contact, Neil Foote, media relations, Tom Joyner Foundation, 214.448.3765, neil@neilfoote.com.

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