stigma

Gym Class Heroes vocalist Travie McCoy, who shot a documentary and released a charity single last year for MTV Networks International’s Staying Alive Foundation, plans to continue bringing attention to the global prevention of HIV and AIDS.

“They actually made me ambassador of Staying Alive so I’m proud to carry that title,” McCoy tells Samartanmag. “I’m sure they will be other projects we’ll have in the future.”

The Foundation (www.stayingalivefoundation.org) provides grants to youth-led initiatives committed to educating their peers, fighting stigma and discrimination, and empowering other young people to protect themselves against the disease.

“I went to South Africa, the Philippines and India with Staying Alive,” says McCoy of the whirlwind 10-day trip last June. “I got to meet some young grantees who are given money every year to fund their grassroots program that they’re doing in their communities to help raise awareness and education in their communities — and they’re young people too.