and the NBA join forces to "ACT! Against AIDS"

The National Action Network (NAN) and EDU, Inc. “Get Educated!” most recently joined in partnership to “ACT! Against AIDS”. NAN and EDU, Inc. are partnering to address some of the most prevalent educational and health related issues in the country among Black youths. Mr. Robert Mason is the President of EDU, Inc. a national GET EDUcated! Campaign. This campaign is designed to bring together African American and Latino male students with  professional athletes, entertainers, politicians, educators, corporations and community leaders to brainstorm and gain knowledge.  As a result of this effort, the students will be more engaged and focused and will more likely stay in school, graduate and possibly attend some form of higher education.

“When I met with Mr. Mason and heard about the work EDU, Inc. was doing to help students go to college, the number of high schools and colleges they visited throughout the country, and their partnership with several NBA teams to reduce the dropout rate among Black males, I knew instantly, we had to combine our efforts in some way.” said Tony Wafford, National Director of Health and Wellness for NAN and Project Coordinator for the Centers for Disease Control’s, “ACT! Against AIDS Leadership Initiative.”

The National Action Network and EDU, Inc. most recently joined forces and took fifty young people to the Minnesota Timberwolves basketball game.  Before the game, the young people where encouraged to complete their education and set their sites on going to college. They where also educated about the importance of safer sex practices and knowing your HIV status. We asked that they join us in sharing this information with their friends and family and to join NAN and EDU, Inc. in the “ACT! Against AIDS Campaign.

“EDU, Inc. gives us the opportunity to reach middle and high school students nationwide so that we can make them aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  The rate of HIV/AIDS among our youth has reached epidemic proportions and this has far reaching consequences. This, coupled with the challenges we face concerning educating students about the harmful and possible life threatening effects of sexually transmitted diseases mandated we partner with a company like EDU, Inc. who has access to a significant number of young adults across the country.” said Mr. Wafford.

“Our mission will always be to break the cycle of poverty, sickness and disease in our families by increasing the educational opportunities for students with the use of the EDU, Inc. Common Black College Application.” said Robert Mason. “But, just going to college is not enough, although very important, so is being educated about things such as your finances and your health.  The partnership with NAN and the ACT! Against AIDS campaign will provide us with the support and will help us achieve this all important goal.