Out of the Closet
| Founded | 1990 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Michael Weinstein |
| Location | |
| Origins | Atwater Village, Los Angeles, California |
Area served | California, Florida |
| Product | Pre-owned merchandise |
| Owner | AIDS Healthcare Foundation |
Key people | Michael Weinstein, President Laura Nelson, CFO |
| Revenue | 5.8 million (2006) |
| Website | www.outofthecloset.org |
Out of the Closet is a nonprofit chain of thrift stores whose revenues provide medical care for patients with HIV/AIDS. The chain is owned and operated by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a Los Angeles, California-based charity that provides medical, preventive, and educational resources for patients. AHF is the largest nonprofit HIV/AIDS healthcare, research, prevention, and education provider in the world. According to AHF, there are 25 OTC stores in nine U.S. states.
Out of the Closet (OTC) thrift stores generate income to help fund the medical services AHF provides for those patients who are unable to pay. Proceeds from OTC thrift stores directly benefit AHF, with 96 cents of every dollar taken in at a thrift store going toward providing HIV/AIDS care. At certain OTC locations, the organization provides free rapid HIV testing and medication pick-up services through AHF pharmacies, in addition to men's and women's clothing, furniture, dishes, decor, books, albums, and other products.