The American Heart Association, alPunto Advertising & La Curacao collaborate Outreach Program.

The American Heart Association and Hispanic retailer La Curacao are collaborating for a massive Hispanic community outreach program to disperse information about the warning signs ad risk of stroke among Latinos and inform on preventive care.

The American Heart Association, which is a national voluntary health organization whose mission is to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, launched this year its first ever Latino Stroke Awareness Program. The effort, developed in conjunction with Hispanic agency alPunto Advertising, is a grassroots-focused effort designed to inform the Hispanic community of what stroke is, how to recognize symptoms and how to live a lifestyle that will prevent stroke. Hispanics are at risk of stroke due to high incidence of some major risk factors, including Diabetes, Obesity and High Cholesterol.

The effort with La Curacao will take place during the month of May (national stroke awareness month), at all nine La Curacao stores in the Los Angeles area. La Curacao, known for its commitment to the community it does business in, reacted positively at the opportunity to provide vital information to its customers about a disease that can be life changing and even deadly.

The effort will take place every Saturday and Sunday during May from noon to 4pm at all nine stores. The American Heart Association will set up a display table at each store lobby and have volunteers available to discuss stroke warning signs, explain what to do in case of stroke and pass on healthy living tips. Material developed by alPunto Advertising will be displayed and distributed (calendars, recipe booklets, brochures, etc.). La Curacao associates’ will be trained in the basics of stroke awareness so that they can become an integral part of this outreach effort.

The effort will also have a fund-raising component with customers able to take home either an American Heart Association eco-friendly shopping bag or a refrigerator magnet with a donation.

During the month of May the American Heart Association will also be running a radio campaign with a touching spot alerting Latinos to the dangers and impacts of stroke.

American Heart Association Los Angeles County Board Chairman David L Ross states “We are extremely excited about this program and are very thankful to La Curacao for helping us disperse very important health messages to the Latino community.”

For La Curacao, Advertising and Marketing Manager Ruth Garcia-Corrales explains “We are always interested in ways to provide beneficial information to our customers. This collaborative effort with the American Heart Association is a great way for us to utilize our stores and engage our associates to help inform Latinos about stroke.”