NEW YORK, NY – The American Heart Association announced today that Liz Elting, co-founder/CEO and Jessica Eker, Senior Vice President of TransPerfect, the world’s largest privately held provider of language and technology solutions for global business, will be co-chairs of the year-round Go Red For Women movement in New York City.
In 2004, the American Heart Association faced a challenge. Cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an older man’s disease. To dispel the myths and raise awareness of cardiovascular diseases as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red For Women, a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.
As co-chairs of the Go Red For Women movement in New York City, Ms. Elting and Eker will champion the issue of women and heart disease and will work to elevate the Go Red For Women mission within the community.
“It’s an honor to contribute to the mission of the American Heart Association through their Go Red For Women movement,” said Ms. Elting. “Go Red For Women encourages awareness of the issue of women and heart disease, and also action to save more lives. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and power women have to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. It challenges them to know their risk for heart disease and take action to reduce their personal risk. It also gives them the tools they need to lead a heart healthy life.”
TransPerfect is headquartered in New York City, the company has more than 4,000 employees and over 100 offices in 90 cities around the globe.
“In the past, heart disease and heart attack have been predominantly associated with men and since women have been largely ignored as a specific group, our awareness of our risk of this often-preventable disease has suffered,” said Ms. Eker. “Only 55 percent of women realize heart disease is their No. 1 killer and less than half know what are considered healthy levels for cardiovascular risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol. The Go Red For Women movement works to make sure women know they are at risk so they can take action to protect their health.”
The AHA uses all revenues from local and National Go Red For Women activities to support awareness, research, education and community programs to benefit women.
These funds help women by offering educational programs, advancing women’s understanding about their risk for heart disease and providing tools and motivation to help women reduce their risk to protect their health.
Based on American Heart Association research, a woman who Goes Red:
- follows an exercise routine
- eats healthier diet
- visits her doctor for important tests
- and influences others by talking about heart health.
“One in three women die of heart disease and stroke each year, so the American Heart Association encourages all women to join the Go Red For Women movement to end heart disease and stroke in women,” said Kathy A. Kauffmann, Senior Vice President of the American Heart Association in New York City. “We are so pleased that Liz and Jessica will join together shoulder to shoulder with other New York City executives and corporations to help us improve the health of all New York City women.”
Go Red For Women is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and CVS Health. Northwell Health and TransPerfect are New York City Goes Red sponsors.
For more information on the Go Red For Women campaign in New York City please contact Jaimie Racanelli at 212-878-5908 or Jamie.racanelli@heart.org.