SAMPLE PROCLAMATION

Dear (insert Governor, Mayor, etc.),

I am writing to encourage you to issue a Proclamation declaring (insert month/date) as (insert appropriate title; i.e. Women's Heart Day) in (insert City/State).  By taking this action you will greatly enhance the efforts to improve awareness of women and heart disease in conjunction with (insert Organization name) and The Heart Truth campaign.

Only 57 percent of women know that heart disease is their leading cause of death and most fail to make the connection between its risk factors—such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol—and their personal risk of developing heart disease.

The Heart Truth features a Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness.  This symbol links a woman's focus on her "outer self" to the need to also focus on her "inner self" and her heart. What's a Red Dress got to do with it?  A simple Red Dress works as a visual red alert to get the message heard loud and clear:  "Heart Disease Doesn't Care What You Wear—It's the #1 Killer of Women."

The Heart Truth campaign is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), in partnership with:  The American Heart Association; Office on Women's Health, DHHS; WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease; and other groups committed to the health and well-being of women.

This national campaign is building awareness of women's heart disease and empowering women to reduce their risk.  It is reaching women with important heart health messages in community settings through a diverse network of national and grassroots partner organizations.

This year, (insert Organization name) will host (insert event name) on (insert event date).  This occasion serves as an ideal opportunity for (insert City/State) to support The Heart Truth campaign and help raise awareness in our (insert City/State).

(Complete this paragraph with a description of your organization and the event you are planning).

Please join in and help us spread the word.  Your support will send a clear message to the women of (insert City/State) that protecting their heart health is important to them, their families, and their communities.

Sincerely,

Enclosure

Proclamation

Whereas, (Insert event name) celebrates the extraordinary progress in women's heart health and recognizes that more needs to be done in (insert city/state) to safeguard women's health for generations to come.

Whereas, Heart disease is the #1 killer of women and one in four American women dies of heart disease.

Whereas, Most women do not know that heart disease is a woman's problem and they do not take it seriously.

Whereas, The risk factors for heart disease are smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight/obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, a family history of early heart disease, and age.

Whereas, Women can promote their own heart health and prevent disease and illness by taking steps to prevent and control the heart disease risk factors.

Whereas, Keeping women healthy and promoting awareness of women's health issues, including heart health, is an important responsibility and depends on the actions of many organizations and groups in our community.

Whereas, Women's health remains a priority for families, communities, and government, and our commitment to keeping women healthy is stronger than ever.

Whereas, The Heart Truth campaign and its Red Dress symbol are building awareness of women's heart disease risk and empowering them to reduce their risk and prevent heart disease.

Therefore, (Insert City/State) women need to take action to make heart health a priority for themselves and their families, become aware of their heart disease risk, and take action to control their risk.

Now, therefore, I (insert Official's name and title) do hereby proclaim (insert date) as (insert name of event) day and encourage all citizens to work together to promote and improve the health of women and increase awareness and understanding of women and heart disease.