HOW WE WERE BORN:

Fulgencio Aponte and Jimmy P realized that although there are plenty of services for HIV general population, help for Hispanics and other minorities was not readily available. Both wanting to do more charity work, with Fulgencio's Agency contacts and Jimmy P's Human Resources and DJ, events planning and entertainment background, they co-founded RED HISPANA FLORIDA filling the void in services to Hispanic and Black Communities.

RED HISPANA FLORIDA was co-founded by Fulgencio Aponte (PRESIDENT) and

W. James Perigny (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER) on April 1, 2004.  RHF RECEIVED

501(C)3 NOT FOR PROFIT STATUS IN JANUARY 2005.  Initially working entirely from Donations, Sponsors and Volunteers, several Events were produced such as Nelson Vergel Seminar hosted by Broward County Dept of Health en espanol...the first en espanol large scale seminar ever in Broward County.

After our first year, RHF received a Grant from Community Foundation of Broward to continue its unique HIV Prevention Education as well as Living with HIV Seminars/Workshops and referrals to HIV minority men, women and children and their affected families, regardless of sexual orientation. A SECOND YEAR GRANT FROM COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF BROWARD WAS

RECEIVED TO CONTINUE OUR FIRST YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS....(CLICK ON ACCOMPLISHMENTS TAB)

In our second year, RHF was involved in a $160,000 CDC FUNDED documentary "POSITIVO SOY" collaborating with HISPANIC AIDS AWARENESS PROGRAM OF MIAMI-DADE.  It's strong HIV PREVENTION message was WORLD PREMIERED ON JULY 28, 2006 and will be viewed at several upcoming events such as U.S. CONFERENCE ON AIDS in Hollywood, Fl, during their convention September 21 to 25, 2006.  Plans include traveling across America with the HIV Prevention message.

Red Hispana Florida staff recently completed HIV Testing and Counseling training  AND is an offical HIV Testing Site of Broward County Dept of Health and currently offers Free Oral HIV testing, HIV Prevention Education as well as Living with HIV Seminars/Workshops, counseling and referrals to HIV minority men, women and children and their affected families, regardless of sexual orientation. 

A WEB SITE WAS ESTABLISHED MID 2006 AND A "WEB STORE" WAS LAUNCHED JANUARY 1, 2007 OFFERING ITEMS IN EXCHANGE FOR DONATIONS.

BIOS:

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMUNITY ADVISORS WERE ADDED IN MARCH 2005:  THE CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSISTS OF DR. JUAN CARLOS RONDON (HIV SPECIALIST), MIGUEL BRITTO   P.A. (HIV RESEARCH INSTITUTE), NELSON VERGEL(HIV ACTIVIST, AUTHOR, LECTURER), STEPHEN FICK (CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, NYC ADVERTISING AGENCY), THOMAS WYNNE, ALONG WITH CO-FOUNDERS FULGENCIO APONTE AND W. JAMES PERIGNY.

BIO: FULGENCIO APONTE

Originally from Venezuela, Fulgencio relocated to Barcelona, Spain. Working at an HIV Agency, Fulgencio relocated to South Florida 6 years ago working at S C Mayer, South Beach Clinic as a volunteer. Fulgencio moved to Broward County and worked at Hispanic Unity, Hollywood and volunteer work at other Agencies such as Amfar and Care Resource events. Fulgencio is currently serving on Broward County HIV Planning Council and CQI Committee.

BIO: W. JAMES PERIGNY

A well known DJ at NYC's Eagle, The Break and The Tunnel in the 90's (DJ JIMMY P), Jimmy P got involved in helping to raise funds at NYC's GLBT Center Dance Committee and other events such as a Amfar New Years Eve party and Childrens Incarnation Hospital fundraiser event. Eventually, moving to South Florida, Jimmy P became a DJ at both the Ft. Lauderdale Eagle and Chainz for several years and continued events such as Sarasota International Film Festival and Benefit Events such as Kids in Distress Xmas Party, Tuesdays Angels Xmas Party @ Island City Traders Furniture, Red Hispana Florida Holiday Party, Miami SIDA Conference, Broward County Annual HIV Hispanic Leadership Awards, THE U.S. CONFERENCE ON AIDS in September 2006, HISPANIC EDUCATORS SUMMIT AT SOFITEL HOTEL, MIAMI..