American Stroke Association Hosts Louisville Power Awards Luncheon

Black History Month — a time to recognize past achievements — is also a good time to focus on one of the greatest threats to African Americans: stroke. On November 6, 2008, the American Stroke Association hosted the Louisville Power Awards Luncheon at Masterson’s Restaurant. The awards presentation and luncheon, hosted by WHAS-TV news anchor Renee Murphy, recognized community leaders and companies for exceptional voluntary service to the campaign.

Power To End Stroke is an education and awareness campaign that embraces and celebrates the culture, energy, creativity, and lifestyles of African Americans. It unites African Americans to help make an impact on the high incidence of stoke within the community.

Jesus Saves Ministries founder, Min. Angela Lee Price received the Inspiration Award recognizing ambassadors from various community organizations, businesses, and local churches who have inspired the community to support Power to End Stoke. "I want to thank the American Stroke Association for choosing me to receive this award. After my husband's stroke last May, the Lord placed it upon my heart to alert as many people as I could through radio and the internet about the warning signs and risk factors for stroke. Too many African Americans are dying needlessly from poor eating habits, and lack of exercise, but Jesus said, 'I come that you may have life and have it more abundantly,'" stated Min. Price.

Other honorees included Dr. Adewale Troutman, Legacy Award; Tanika Owens, Outstanding Ambassador Award; Dr. Kerri Remmel, Power Broker Award; Tony Huey, Impact Award; Theresa Byrd, Strategic Alliance Award; and Louisville Defender Newspaper, Strategic Alliance Award. Dr. James M. Gebel, Jr., Medical Director for Jewish Hospital Emergency Stroke Center and St. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital Stoke Center was the keynote speaker.

BeBe Winans:
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

American Stroke Association - Louisville

Louisville Hosts First Annual Power To End Stroke Awards

By: Rogers Gardner, II

Louisville will host the 1st Annual Louisville Power To End Stroke Awards sponsored by the American Stoke Association. The Louisville Power Awards will be held Thursday, November 6th with a Power To End Stroke networking luncheon followed by the Louisville Power Awards hosted by Renee Murphy at Mastersons’ Restaurant. During the Power Luncheon, the acclaimed motivational speaker, Dr. James Gebel, will be the keynote speaker. The Power Awards will conclude with a Power To End Stroke Charge and Pledge.

The awardees for the first annual Power to End Stroke Awards are influential people in the community who are interested in educating those at highest risk about stroke. Ambassadors are key opinion leaders, politicians, celebrities, community and church leaders – these are individuals who can help make a difference. Invited awardees for the November 2008 event include:
Louisville Outstanding PTES Ambassadors
•Tanika Owens: Owner, TNT Fitness
Louisville PTES Power Broker Award
•Dr. Kerri Remmel: Chair of the Department of Neurology and Director of the University of Louisville Stroke Program
Louisville PTES Legacy Award
•Dr. Adewale Troutman: Director of the Louisville Metro Department of Health and Wellness
Louisville PTES Inspiration Award
•Rev. Angela Lee Price: 1350 WLOU on air personality and Founder of Jesus Saves Ministries
Louisville PTES Impact Award
•Kentuckiana CPR
Louisville PTES Strategic Alliance Awards
• Norton’s Healthcare
• Louisville Defender

The Power Awards and Luncheon will be open to other ambassadors who may want to attend. The process for placing reservation will be communicated by mid October. The senior leadership of major African-American organizations, all local African American media outlets, and grassroots organizations will be invited to attend. Louisville PTES ambassadors will be invited to attend and speak as well.
What is the attire for the weekend?
November 6th Power Awards and Networking Luncheon: Business

The registration process will be communicated by mid-October. Reservations can be made up to four days prior to the event; Reservations for each event will be available until maximum capacity for each event is reached.
We encourage each ambassador to bring a guest or a number of guests to share in the excitement of the weekend and to see them be honored.
Who would ambassadors contact if they have questions or want more information?
For more information, please contact Debra Eichenberger at debra.eichenberger@heart.org or Rogers W. Gardner II at rogers.gardner@heart.org or call Debra at 502-371-6023 or Rogers at 502-371-6008.
Call-to-Action:
You are the Power To End Stroke. Call the American Stroke Association at 1-888-4-STROKE or visit StrokeAssociation.org to:
take the stroke pledge and receive a free Healthy Soul Food Recipes Cookbook,
receive free information about African Americans and stroke, and
find out how you can become a campaign Ambassador and reduce stroke in your community through the Power To End Stroke campaign.

Power To End Stroke is nationally supported by the Bristol Myers-Squibb and Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership.

The Power to End Stroke

By: Rogers Gardner, II

My name is Rogers W. Gardner II, and I am the new Cultural Health Initiatives Senior Director for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. I would like to introduce you to an initiative designed to increase public awareness and action to fight stroke in the African American community: Power to End Stroke.
The Power to End Stroke campaign is a national initiative reaching out to African-Americans ages 30-64. It embraces and celebrates the culture, energy, creativity and lifestyles of African Americans. It unites African Americans to make an impact on the high incidence of stroke within our community. Power to End Stroke emphasizes the serious health disparity of stroke in African Americans and drives the message that in many cases, stroke may be preventable.

Power to End Stroke is an aggressive public awareness campaign against stroke in the African American community, compelling because:

• Stroke is the #3 killer in America…each year 700,000+ Americans have a stroke, 160,000+ will die and 200,000+ will be disabled;
• Every 3.3 minutes, someone dies from stroke;
  Every 45 seconds, someone has a stroke;
• Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability;
• Compared to whites, African Americans are twice as likely to suffer stroke;
• The burden of stroke is greater among African Americans than in any other group. In fact, we have almost twice the risk of first-ever stroke compared with whites, and blacks 35-54 years of age have four times the relative risk for stroke.

The Cultural Health Initiatives team in the Kentuckiana Metro is working with WLOU radio and Jesus Saves Ministries to spread the word about stroke prevention. On Friday, May 30th Dr. Kerri Remmel, Chair of the Department of Neurology and Director of the University of Louisville Stroke Program, Marc Jennings, AHA Communications Director, and I were guests on the Angela/Bill Price Morning show and discussed risk factors, signs of stroke and ways to raise stroke awareness in the community. I have also participated in the WLOU Backyard Cookout, National Baptist Convention (pictured left: Rev. Broduric Purvis, Oscar Carter, Jerry Siegel, Vivien Ogburn, and Rogers Gardner), Proud Family Heritage Reunion, Governor's Fourth Annual Empowerment Conference, and various health fairs within the community.

At the cornerstone of the Power to End Stroke campaign are our “Power Ambassadors”. Ambassadors take the Power to End Stroke pledge to: 1) help the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association advance the cause by spreading the word to their family and friends and others in their sphere of influence; 2) know and recognize the risk factors and signs of stroke and 3) raise stroke awareness in the community and recruit others to do the same.

I’m asking everyone to take the pledge…make a promise to yourself and a commitment to your family to know the risk factors. Be proactive in reducing your risk…know the warning signs:

1. Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg especially on one side of the body.
2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
3. Sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness.
4. Sudden loss of balance or coordination.
5. Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Please consider becoming an Ambassador. Please help get the word out so others will know the risk factor and warning signs of this deadly disease. If you would like more information about this exciting campaign or would like to become a “Power Ambassador” please call or email me at (502) 371-6008 or rogers.gardner@ heart.org.