Wendell Hicks

Grand opening of Thornhill Lopez Center on 4th for LGBTQ Youth

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SOUTHERN ARIZONA AIDS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES OPENING OF

THORNHILL LOPEZ CENTER ON 4TH

 “ The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) is proud to announce the opening of Tucson’s newest youth center, the Thornhill Lopez Center on 4th. To mark the grand opening, SAAF invites the community and media representatives to attend a Ribbon Cutting and Open House on January 18, 2018 from 11:30-1pm at the Thornhill Lopez Center on 4th, 526 North 4th Avenue.

 The objective of the Thornhill Lopez Center on 4th is to serve youth through programming, direct client services, and community engagement, with a direct focus on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) youth. The central program of the Thornhill Lopez Center on 4th is Eon, a safe space for LGBTQ & allied youth. At Eon, youth can work on homework, access art programming through a collaborative with the Museum of Contemporary Art, participate in peer-to-peer education opportunities and harm-reduction, empowerment-driven programming. In addition to Eon, SAAF will collocate other youth programming at the Thornhill Lopez Center on 4th in order to best serve the community.

 The center is named after Curtis Thornhill, originally from southern Arizona. Mr. Thornhill said: “I am very excited to be part of a project giving youth, especially LGBTQ youth, a safe space in southern Arizona. The Thornhill Lopez Center on 4th will remind our whole community that our youth are loved and welcome.”

 SAAF’s Executive Director, Wendell Hicks, added: “SAAF has always been driven by transformative action. The Thornhill Lopez Center on 4th will change and save the lives of many, many youths and I couldn’t be prouder of that.” Adam Ragan, SAAF’s Associate Director of LGBTQ Initiatives noted: “What started a couple years ago as a dream of a few in the community is now a reality. Youth will have a safe space to access programs, education, art, and most importantly, each other. We know the power of peer-to-peer programming can really impact the lives of youth for years to come.”

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New SAAF Center for LGBTQ Youth to open in 2017

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PRESS RELEASE Date:            For Immediate Release, 1/10/2017 Contact:       Wendell Hicks,Executive Director Ethan Smith Cox, Director of Development (520) 547-6105 SOUTHERN ARIZONA AIDS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES THORNHILL LOPEZ CENTER ON 4TH– A SAAF PLACE FOR YOUTH   SAAF is very excited to announce its newest project to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community, … Read more

Provocative Möda Provŏcateūr 2015

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A Different Kind of Fashion Show

The 12th Annual Möda Provŏcateūr, presented by Title Sponsor, FreedomSmoke International, and supported by Arizona Lottery and WABA Hair Supply is an event celebrating the best of Tucson style while raising funds for the programs and services of the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF). The Tucson Convention Center Grand Ballroom will be a perfect place to showcase salons including: Ahead of Style; Avalon for Hair, Skin & Nails; The Industry Hair Studio; Salon de Nouveau; Ulta; Toni & Guy; Twisted Salon; and Village Salon.

The evening will include performances from BreakOut Studios and Artifact Dance Project as well as winning fashions from “Project Möda”, an annual design contest that seeks out the best designers in Tucson and tasks them with creating edgy, avant-garde designs to be featured at the event.

Don’t miss out on this year’s incredible, over-the-top event. We’ll see you there!

Purchase tickets online here: http://saafmoda.saaf.org/purchase-tickets/. General admission $40; Hi Top Cocktail Table Seating: $100 each/$400 per table (4 seats). 

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SAAF takes on two Wingspan programs

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Press release from So. AZ Aids Foundation:

(Tucson)— The board of directors for the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) unanimously voted Tuesday evening to move forward with plans to take on Wingspan, Tucson’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community center, and its programs. The SAAF Board has agreed to immediately take on and continue 2 of Wingspan’s most vital programs, the Anti-Violence Project and Eon Youth Lounge. These 2 programs and associated staff will move to SAAF this Friday August 1.

SAAF Board President Miguel Cruz stated, “This is an incredible opportunity to enhance SAAF’s already strong programs while maintaining Wingspan’s vital & critical community outreach. Simply put, the SAAF Board of Directors could not imagine a community without these programs and our vote to continue Wingspan’s work is well-aligned with SAAF’s mission of creating and sustaining a healthier community”.

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Exciting photo gallery of 2014 Jell-O Wrestling extravaganza

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If you missed the 2014 Jell-O Wrestling benefit and extravaganza for Southern AZ Aids Foundation (SAAF) on Saturday May 3, here’s a photo gallery of some of the matches, courtesy of T-Media Promotion (except for two photos as noted courtesy of the contestants). My previous post on the day after the event is here. Over $56,000 was raised at this popular event, now in it’s 27th year.

DIVA Mistress of Ceremonies Lucinda Holliday welcoming the corwd
DIVA Mistress of Ceremonies Lucinda Holliday welcoming the crowd at the Slaughterhouse
SAAF Executive Director Wendell Hicks welcoming everyone, and thanking them for supporting the work of SAAF
SAAF Executive Director Wendell Hicks welcoming everyone, and thanking them for supporting the work of SAAF

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