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Mazzoni Center provides provides competent, compassionate and nonjudgmental primary medical care, mental health counseling, and a full range of HIV / AIDS testing & social services to the region's historically underserved sexual minority and HIV-affected communities. Since our founding over 25 years ago, until the present, Mazzoni Center has been at the forefront of LGBT health concerns in the region, responding and adapting as needs arose. We are the first and oldest HIV/AIDS service organization in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the only LGBT-focused health center in the Philadelphia region. Our history is replete with a number of "firsts." 1979 - "Lavendar Health" is founded, and the idea of an LGBT-focused health agency finds its home in Philadelphia. The issues primarily addressed concern screenings and treatment for sexually-transmitted diseases. A gay and lesbian hotline service is started, providing health information and referrals. 1980 - Lavendar Health changes its name to "Philadelphia Community Health Alternatives" and PCHA's mission is serve as an alternative to mainstream healthcare, for traditionally underserved sexual minorities. 1981 , The term "AIDS" enters the lexicon, and PCHA forms a special committee that becomes known as The Philadelphia AIDS Task Force. It begins safer-sex education and screening for STD's in local bathhouses. 1982 - PCHA produces and distributes is first AIDS literature, and establishes the Philadelphia AIDS Hotline, the first such hotline in Pennsylvania. There were seven confirmed cases of AIDS in Philadelphia in June of 1982. 1983 , PCHA forms a "Support Services" committee, and the "buddy" program is developed to assist people living with AIDS. 1985 , PCHA initiates an "Alternate Test Site," becoming the first such site in Pennsylvania to offer HIV antibody testing. PCHA creates the first housing program in Pennsylvania for people with AIDS. The Philadelphia AIDS Hotline is now operating 12 hours daily, and fielding upwards of 1200 calls per month. PCHA volunteer and board member Rashicah Hassan announces the formation of a minority AIDS group called BEBASHI (Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health Issues) during the first Philadelphia AIDS candlelight march. The agency is still going strong today. There were 163 confirmed cases of AIDS in Philadelphia. 1986 , PCHA's "Support Services" committee incorporates as ActionAIDS, a strong and viable AIDS service organization in Philadelphia today. 1988 , PCHA is a founding member of The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium (TPAC), which opened in conjunction with other AIDS groups in the Philadelphia area to secure federal funding under the Ryan White Act. 1989 , PCHA opens the first regional HIV-specific food bank. 1990 , PCHA initiates Case Management services to link people with housing, medical care, medication and benefits. There are 845 known cases of AIDS in Philadelphia, a 500% increase in 5 years. The agency also opens a street outreach program for minority youth, the first of its kind in Philadelphia. 1991 , PCHA names its HIV testing clinic the "Mazzoni Clinic," in memory of its late medical director, Peter Mazzoni, M.D. There are 1845 AIDS cases in Philadelphia, more than double the previous year. 1995 , PCHA completes the first Lesbian Health Needs assessment survey in Philadelphia. 1996 , PCHA initiates its first broad-based sexual minority youth mental health program, a forerunner of the Open Door Counseling Program, and starts a Men's Coming Out support group. 1997 - PCHA sponsors the first "Ride for Hope" bicycle fundraising ride, expands it hours to include evenings, and initiates a Women's Coming Out support group. 1998 , Launches the ALLY Safe School Program, offering training on LGBT issues for Philadelphia public school staff. PCHA opens a Sexual Health Clinic, offering comprehensive STD screenings and GYN care. 1999 , PCHA produces the first Lesbian Health Resource Guide. 2000 , PCHA doubles its Sexual Health Clinic hours, and begins its Hepatitis A & B vaccination program. 2001 , In collaboration with other community-based organizations, PCHA starts The Collective, performing outreach and HIV testing targeted towards men who have sex with men (MSM) in Philadelphia's communities of color. 2002 , PCHA receives funding to do primary health care, and cuts the ribbon to its Community Health Center. We also hold the first Women's Wellness Day, a health fair with workshops specifically targeting lesbian and bi-women. 2003 , PCHA adopts the name "Mazzoni Center" to encompass the many programs and services we now offer under one roof. These now include obtaining a mental health license from Community Behavioral Health, and receiving a permanent state license for providing outpatient drug and alcohol counseling. Mazzoni Center also begins using the Rapid HIV-antibody test on World AIDS Day (Dec. 1st). 2004 , Mazzoni Center unveils its new Mobile Testing Unit, a project of The Collective, to provide HIV testing and counseling to hard-to-reach, at risk populations in Philadelphia's communities of color. 2006 , Mazzoni Center launches its new "My Mazzoni" identity campaign, and an interactive website that lets patients and clients create their own Mazzoni Center profiles, and have a Mazzoni experience that is tailor-made to their specific needs and interests. Mazzoni Center prepares to open the new location for its Community Health Center, a state-of-the-art facility located on its own dedicated floor on the Eighth Floor of 1201 Chestnut Street. The ribbon-cutting is tentatively scheduled for the Summer of 2006.