IRVINE, CA and SANTA ANA, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 4, 2016) - AIDS Services Foundation Orange County (ASF) -- a nonprofit AIDS service organization that has helped more than 8,000 people living with HIV and AIDS in Orange County since 1985 -- is pleased to announce that its newest satellite project, RADAR (Rendering Access to Disease-prevention Advocacy & Retention), will be collaborating with telenovela star, Mauricio Martinez, to launch an HIV prevention campaign in Orange County.

The concert, which will take place on April 10 at 7 p.m. followed by a press conference at 8 p.m. at Original Mike's in Downtown Santa Ana, will kick off RADAR's HIV prevention campaign, "A Stronger & Healthier Latino GBTQ Community," and will feature a performance by LGBTQ and RADAR advocate, Mauricio Martinez, a photo booth, free on-site HIV testing and distribution of safe sex kits. The campaign, which Martinez will be the face of, will focus on breaking down the barriers and stigma associated with HIV prevention and building a stronger social network for the Latino gay community in OC.

"We are proud to be working with such strong and sincere activists like event promoter Yanet Rodriguez and incredible talent like Mauricio Martinez in promoting HIV prevention in the community," says Maria Olivas, project manager of RADAR. "The purpose of RADAR is to reach young, bisexual and gay Latino men between the ages of 18-49 and provide them with vital HIV prevention services. This event is the perfect setting to launch the foundation's newest initiative."

For the past 30 years, ASF has been fighting to prevent the spread of HIV through various programs, services and events throughout Orange County. RADAR, an initiative funded by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was launched three months ago by ASF in response to the HIV crisis among Hispanic/Latino men who have sex with men (MSM). A recent CDC report stated that one in every four gay Latino men will be diagnosed with HIV within their lifetime.

An ASF satellite project located in Santa Ana, RADAR is focused on HIV intervention and prevention among young Latino men who have sex with men and their sexual partners, regardless of their age, gender, or ethnicity. The project's goal is to increase HIV testing and linkage to medical care, facilitation of patient navigation and distribution of condoms.

As a way to further champion the longstanding goal of ending the AIDS epidemic, ASF intends for this collaborative effort to be the beginning of a new era for the foundation. Through RADAR, ASF will be working to further build valuable partnerships with local universities, colleges and high schools that have Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs or LGBT centers. They will also continue to work side-by-side with gay nightlife establishments as well as the Mexican Consulate in Santa Ana, where ASF provides HIV testing.

To kick start the campaign, RADAR will be holding a press conference at after the concert at 8 p.m. For more information about the event, to learn more about RADAR or how to get involved with ASF, please contact Rosie Cosio at 949.733.8679 ext. 105, or visit the ASF website at http://www.ocasf.org/.

AIDS Services Foundation Orange County (ASF) is a nonprofit AIDS service organization that has helped more than 8,000 people living with HIV disease in Orange County since 1985. ASF serves the local community impacted by HIV and AIDS by providing food, transportation, housing, emergency financial assistance, counseling, education and preventative services. You can learn more about the organization by visiting www.ocasf.org.