EL CERRITO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation program, Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM, today announced a grant of more than $153,000 to Visión y Compromiso in El Cerrito in support of the organization’s Healthy Families, Healthy Hearts program. This is the second consecutive year that Visión y Compromiso has received a grant from the Connections for Cardiovascular Health.
Healthy Families, Healthy Hearts uses the Salsa, Sabor y Salud research-based curriculum developed by the National Latino Children's Institute to improve awareness of heart healthy habits leading to better nutrition, increased physical activity, and reduced stress for low-income, underserved Latino families in the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties.
“Visión y Compromiso is committed to health and dignified communities,” said Maria Lemus, Executive Director of Visión y Compromiso. “The Healthy Families, Health Hearts program provides cardiovascular education, nutrition and exercise information and real tools in a culturally and linguistically relevant manner to support healthier family lifestyles.”
This program will reach more than 10,000 participants and will use age-appropriate activities to reinforce healthy food choices and increase physical activity by building on Latino family values, experiences, traditions, language, and cultural strengths. This strategy will enhance family time, creating opportunities for families to play, cook, and eat together. The program employs Promotores de salud, trained community experts who use personal contacts, trust, and respect to address sensitive topics, counter misinformation, and advocate for quality health care.
“We must work to decrease the risk of and prevent cardiovascular disease in the United States, by providing resources to those in need,” said James W. Blasetto, M.D., MPH, chairman of the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation. “Visión y Compromiso is providing an innovative program to improve cardiovascular health in communities throughout Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties.”
Connections for Cardiovascular Health was launched in 2010 through a charitable contribution of $25 million from AstraZeneca. The program awards grants of $150,000 and up to US-based non-profit organizations that are doing innovative work in the field of cardiovascular health. The grant will be used to focus on screening initiatives that will identify patients with or at-risk of cardiovascular disease. Those individuals who do not have health insurance or underinsured will be given the option of establishing a medical home with the free health clinic.
Organizations can learn more and apply online for a Foundation grant at www.astrazeneca-us.com/foundation. Applications must be submitted online no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on March 15.
About Visión y Compromiso
Visión y Compromiso (VyC) is a recognized leader in California for the training, leadership development and advocacy of Promotores and Community Health Workers (P/CHWs). The VyC vision, Hacia una Vida Digna y Sana/Working Towards A Healthy and Dignified Life for All, reflects its work to improve socioeconomic and health outcomes of underrepresented communities by enhancing and strengthening Promotores’ capacity to serve the community.
VyC strengthens the ability of Latino communities to identify issues of concern, confront barriers, propose locally defined solutions, inform policies, change organizational practices, and improve individual and community health outcomes.
About the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation
Established in 1993, the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation is a Delaware not-for-profit corporation and a 501(c)(3) entity organized for charitable purposes including to promote public awareness of healthcare issues, to promote public education of medical knowledge and to support or contribute to charitable and qualified exempt organizations consistent with its charitable purpose.
CONTACT:
AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation
Tony Jewell, 302-885-4594
or
Visión y Compromiso
Melinda Cordero-Barzagam, 626-864-6117
KEYWORDS: United States North America California
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Cardiology Fitness & Nutrition Pharmaceutical Philanthropy Retail Food/Beverage Consumer Family Foundation
MEDIA:
| Logo |