YouthAIDS, Levi's and BET's Rap It-Up Campaign Kick Off 2007 'Kick Me' Campaign to Raise HIV/AIDS Awareness at High Schools, Colleges and Universities Across t...( Celebrity Spokespeople to Drive Y...),Health

Celebrity Spokespeople to Drive Young People to Do Something Radical and Simple to Fight the Spread of HIV/AIDS

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Look out for the Kick Me sign. It's back on the backs of college students around the nation. YouthAIDS, an action-based initiative implemented by Population Services International (PSI), today announced the launch of the 2007 'Kick Me' campaign. The 'Kick Me' program takes the childish prank and turns it into a powerful tool to communicate facts, start dialogue and change behavior among HIV/AIDS' most at risk group.

This national, grassroots, student-led campaign to increase awareness of HIV / AIDS among youth in the U.S., aims to reduce infection-related stigma and opening a constructive dialogue among young people. The "Kick Me" campaign is based on the old prank of someone sticking a Kick Me sign on another's back without their knowledge -- just like 90% of those infected HIV/AIDS may not know they are carrying HIV.

"With the help of celebrities like Kat DeLuna and Omarion and partners like Levi's and BET's Rap It-Up campaign, we're turning a practical joke into a practical lesson. We are calling on young people across the country to do something radical and simple to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS," said YouthAIDS Founder & Director Kate Roberts.

Kick Me! features Samuel L. Jackson, Omarion, Kat DeLuna, Mekhi Pfifer, Elisha Cuthbert, Maria Menounos, Shannon Elizabeth, comedian Russell Peters, Kelly Rowland, Ben Jelen, DJ Rekha, State Radio, Shotgun Honeymoon, Emmy Rossum, and more in PSAs, school visits, and/or special events across the country.

Beginning today, students will register at http://www.youthaids.org and ask friends and family to sponsor them beginning World AIDS Day, December 1st, through December 20th when they will wear signs on their backs communicating facts about HIV / AIDS, promoting HIV testing,
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