As a purpose driven organization, advocacy is in our DNA. For four decades, we've charted a history of innovation and inclusion in order to make safer sex second nature. Supporting Pride initiatives and celebrating our customers' efforts is at the heart of what we do.
For this Pride season, we're putting one of our favorite customers, Central Outreach Wellness Center, in the spotlight. We built ONE®, our signature product line, as a brand for everyONE; and Central outreach has always impressed us as the embodiment of that spirit. Once you learn more about the team and their impact, we think you'll be equally impressed.
About Central Outreach Wellness Center
What started as a bold mission to deliver inclusive, affirming care has grown into a thriving, multi-location healthcare network across Pennsylvania and Ohio. Central Outreach Wellness Center has proudly delivered 11 years of service to the LGBTQIA+ community and other underserved populations – over a decade of fighting stigma, expanding access, and building trust.
Founded on the belief that everyone deserves compassionate, culturally humble care, Central Outreach has become a regional leader in sexual health, HIV treatment and prevention, and more. Today, the clinic provides a wide range of services, including STI testing, PrEP, primary care, mental health care, Hepatitis C treatment, housing resources, and case management – all delivered with the understanding that health is about far more than a doctor’s visit.
Central Outreach has played a vital role in flattening the curve of HIV transmission through aggressive PrEP access and education. By removing cost barriers, offering same-day starts, and integrating PrEP into everyday primary care and outreach, clinicians have helped thousands of patients take control of their sexual health. The team understands that prevention is just as important as treatment, and their growing PrEP program is one of the strongest examples of how accessible, judgment-free care can make a measurable difference in public health. This focused effort has helped with the decline of new HIV cases in Allegheny County since 2015.
A deep commitment to outreach is at the heart of the organization's success. The team regularly brings healthcare directly to the people where they are – at bars, clubs, community centers, Pride events, college campuses, and beyond. Whether it's offering free STI testing, distributing condoms and harm reduction supplies, or connecting individuals to care on the spot, this comprehensive outreach model ensures that no one is left behind just because they can’t (or won’t) walk into a traditional clinic. Real change happens in the spaces where people live, work, and celebrate; and the Central Outreach team keeps showing up!
We wholeheartedly agree that outreach and education are critical components to promoting safer sex and positively impacting sexual health. From HIV and AIDS awareness, to harm reduction, and Pride engagement, we're committed to offering products and solutions that help our customers engage their diverse communities.
As we kick off Pride season, Central Outreach provides a powerful case study in inclusive engagement. The Q & A below with Linnea Drenning, the organization's Outreach Marketing Coordinator, details the team's best practices and showcases their commendable Pride efforts.
Pride Engagement Q & A
How important is Pride season to your overall mission?
“Pride season isn’t just a celebration to us, it’s our Super Bowl. As the largest LGBTQ+ medical clinic in Pennsylvania, with additional locations in Ohio, our work is rooted in HIV prevention, sexual health, and providing affirming, accessible care to the communities we serve. Pride is one of the most important times of year for us because it brings our community together in a way that is both visible and powerful. It creates space for connection, trust, and meaningful conversations around health, keeping it at the forefront of people's minds, especially for individuals who may not otherwise engage with traditional healthcare systems. Pride is where outreach becomes impact in real time.“
What type of marketing outreach do your Pride initiatives involve? And how important are specialty Pride items to your efforts?
“We advertise through TV commercials, printed Pride guides, billboards along the Pride march routes, bus shelters, and social media for our Pride season. We love having fun specialty items like Pride-themed condoms, custom tins, and branded educational materials, which are more than just giveaways. They’re engagement tools for our community. They help break the ice on topics people might not feel comfortable talking about, start conversations about sexual health at a patient-forward educational level, and make prevention feel accessible, normal, and fun. When our SWAG feels intentional and community-specific, people are more likely to take it, keep it, and use it. That matters to us, especially if later on they will see it and remember to make their sexual health a priority.“
How do you generate team energy and involvement internally for Pride season?
“Pride season requires lots of energy, commitment, and dedication to the work, and we are fortunate to have an enthusiastic group of staff who show up fully. Many of our team members are part of the communities we serve, and that authenticity is reflected in every interaction. Pride can be long, fast-paced, and demanding, but our team brings the passion needed to make each moment count. We wouldn’t be who we are without them.“
How far in advance do you start planning for Pride, and what's your planning process?
“Planning for Pride starts months in advance. With multiple cities and events, our team takes a lot of time to plan and coordinate, to make sure we show up prepared. That includes finding out the key events across all our service areas, organizing staffing and outreach teams, and creating marketing materials to create fun, meaningful engagement. Partnerships and collaborations with other community members also play an important role in this process, helping us ensure we have reliable prevention tools and educational resources ready for the community.“
Do you have specific metrics around Pride engagement? If so, how do you track and review them as a team for insights and learnings?
“We track engagement through different measures, such as the number of HIV and STI tests we do, PrEP consultations and starts, and the volume of outreach interactions. These insights help us evaluate our impact and refine our approach each year. Some of our greatest successes come from those one-on-one moments where we connect with someone who has never been tested before, starting someone on PrEP, or creating a safe space for someone to ask questions without fear of judgment. Even if they don’t want to get tested at our Pride event, we send them to one of our 6 locations.“
What have been your biggest Pride successes?
“Some of our biggest successes are meeting people who have never been tested before, starting someone on PrEP for the first time, and creating safe, affirming spaces in environments where healthcare isn’t always present. To do the work, we have to show up where our community is.“
What have been your most significant Pride challenges?
“There are challenges we face for sure. Large crowds, limited time, hot weather, cramped spaces, no porta-potty access, and ongoing stigma can make it difficult to reach everyone who could benefit from our services. But even within those challenges, the opportunity to engage directly with the community makes Pride one of the most impactful times of the year for our organization.“
Do you have a "top-three" Pride season best practices that you feel are essential for optimizing engagement?
“We’ve learned that successful Pride engagement comes down to a few key principles like meeting people where they are, both physically and culturally; making interactions meaningful rather than transactional; and ensuring access to high-quality prevention tools. These elements work together to create experiences that are not only memorable but also impactful.“
Anything else you would like to share about optimizing Pride engagement that may be useful advice for other public health organizations?
“Pride is public health in action. It’s where visibility meets prevention, where education meets empowerment, and where care becomes accessible in real, tangible ways. For us, it’s a time to show up fully for our community to support, to educate, and to remind people that their health and their identity both deserve to be prioritized.“
We're honored to partner with customers like Central Outreach and we're grateful Linnea took time to generously share the team's perspective with us. We hope you're as inspired by their Pride efforts as we are.
If you’re involved in this kind of advocacy in action and want to share your story, please contact us. We’re always excited to learn about and celebrate community impact!