NYC Woman Receives Heart Heroine Honors

Minneapolis, MN – Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy’s passion and heartfelt efforts to end heart disease in her New York City community are being recognized on a national level. Kennedy is one of five women honored with a 2008 Cheerios Sisters Saving Hearts grant award for her work to raise awareness for heart disease prevention particularly among black women. Kennedy will receive a $5,000 check from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and Cheerios which she will donate to the American Heart Association. The national grant program is in its second year and honors heart-health heroes each spring with $5,000 in unrestricted funds for operating expenses. Kennedy also will be recognized on the SistersSavingHearts.com web site and will be awarded a trophy representing her commitment to her community.

“We are very proud to recognize Teresa for her tireless work, commitment and compassion on behalf of friends, family members and neighbors,” said Elsie Scott, PhD, President & CEO, CBCF. “Statistics show that heart disease is the leading cause of death among Americans, and we know it disproportionately affects those of African heritage. However, we can find inspiration and hope woven throughout our Sisters Saving Hearts winners’ stories. With continued effort, ultimately, we can end this terrible disease.”

Teresa, described as a woman who is “smart with a heart,” has actively helped thousands of individuals from all walks of life discover the path to a healthier heart. She wears many hats in her role as teacher, trainer and speaker. Eight years ago, she opened one of the first yoga studios in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. Since then, she has served as a holistic health counselor, a life coach, an ambassador for the American Heart Association and a speaker for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. She holds an MBA from Harvard and a PhD in world religions. Teresa plans to donate her $5,000 grant to fund a session on stress and heart disease through Harlem’s H.E.A.L. (Healthy Eating And Living) initiative.

“Teresa is truly making a difference by leading with her heart and improving overall health of women living in New York’s Harlem neighborhood” said Sara Rohland, Cheerios marketing. “We applaud Teresa’s ability to touch so many women of color with her work. She inspires us with her extraordinary efforts to promote wise lifestyle choices and we hope more people will hear Teresa’s story and be encouraged to take positive steps to end heart disease.”

The CBCF and Cheerios received dozens of nominations for individuals and organizations from across the U.S. from February 1 through March 15, 2008. Winners were selected by a panel of judges based on their creativity, quality of service, reach/impact of their work and their direct ability to help educate women on the importance of lowering their cholesterol. The grants are part of Cheerios Circle of Helping Hearts broader heart-health initiative which arms consumers with useful information on heart disease prevention and provides steps to a heart healthy lifestyle via diet, exercise, and regular cholesterol and blood pressure screenings. As the only cold cereal clinically proven to lower cholesterol, Cheerios is committed to empowering women who are working to fight heart disease.

For more information on the Sisters Saving Hearts visit www.SistersSavingHearts.com..

 

Clinton to Make History Again

The National Organization for Women applauds the presidential campaigns of Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama for their announcement today that Clinton’s name will be placed into nomination at the Democratic National Convention.

“Hillary Clinton’s campaign made history this year, with 18 million women and men across the country voting for her in the primaries,” said NOW President Kim Gandy. “And she will make history yet again when delegates from nearly every state in the nation will be able to take the floor and proudly say Clinton’s name in the roll call vote.”

Clinton follows in the footsteps of Margaret Chase Smith, whose name was placed in nomination at the 1964 Republican convention, and Shirley Chisholm, who won 151.95 votes at the 1972 Democratic convention. Clinton, the first woman to compete in all of the U.S. primary contests, is expected to garner the most delegates ever of any woman candidate at a major party convention.
Clinton will speak at the convention on the evening of Aug. 26, the 88th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in the United States. The following night the roll call vote will take place, when the voices of the millions who voted for Clinton will be heard and counted.

“Women will not be fully equal until we break every last glass ceiling,” said Gandy. “Hillary Clinton proved that electing a woman president is within our grasp. Having her delegates tallied at the convention will ensure that this important step in history will never be forgotten.”