SINGLE CITY SAMPLE EVENT DESCRIPTIONS

Each Single City host promotes The Heart Truth to women in their community by planning a unique program that also meets their organizational mission and goals.  Hosts are encouraged to incorporate the Red Dress theme into the event and highlight the national Red Dress Collection in the planning and implementation.  The following summaries provide a glimpse into the unique programs designed by Single City hosts.

Baptist Health System—Jackson, Mississippi
January 30-31, 2004
Baptist Health System planned and launched "The Heart Truth Mississippi" (www.mshearttruth.com) by engaging business, media, and community organizations statewide.  Awareness partners include Mississippi Hospital Association (over 20 hospitals participating), Mississippi Nurses Association, Mississippi Nurses Foundation, Mississippi State Department of Health (DOH), Mississippi State Medical Association, and dozens of others.

"The Heart Truth Mississippi" kicked off with a Red Dress Luncheon attended by 450 business, health care, and community leaders including representatives from the Governor's office, MS First Lady's office, and the State legislature.  Miss Mississippi was also in attendance.  A press conference was held prior to the luncheon and was attended by the local ABC and NBC affiliates, as well as other radio and print media. Luncheon speakers included the State Health Officer of the MS State Department of Health and the President and CEO of the MS Hospital Association, who gave the Introduction and Commission of the Mississippi Red Dress designed by Donna Kennedy Sones.  The Chief of Staff for First Lady Marsha Barbour also read some remarks that the First Lady had written in support of the campaign.

The Red Dresses were displayed during a health fair at center court of North Park Mall in Jackson.  Free blood pressure screenings were provided to nearly 500 people during the four-hour fair.  Forty percent of the individuals screened were found to be at risk.  All of the volunteers wore red t-shirts with "Mississippi Heart Truth" printed on the back.

CJW Medical Center—Richmond, Virginia
February 14, 2004
Richmond's CJW Medical Center hosted an elegant Red Dress Ball, "Dance for Her Heart," for more than 850 guests on Valentine's Day to raise awareness of women's heart health.  Guests attended in red dresses and ties.  The ball was held at the Virginia Science Museum in Richmond.  The Heart Truth logo was projected across the front of the museum's Greek style entrance in red lighting, and red dress illuminations covered the ceilings and dome of the museum's entrance.

The evening's program included remarks by a local female news anchor, who also emceed a fashion show featuring the "Richmond Red Dresses."  Eight original dresses designed by students and professors at Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising were officially introduced and modeled by local politicians, heart disease survivors, physicians, media personalities, and women's health advocates.  During the week leading up to the Ball, heart disease survivors serving as spokespersons for the event were featured on local TV stations and in the local newspapers.  The local media also covered the making of the "Richmond Red Dresses" by interviewing the designers and publishing "in-the-making" photos.

The Miriam Hospital—Providence, Rhode Island
April 3, 2004
The Miriam Hospital hosted the Red Dress Collection during its 2004 Women's Wellness Workshop, held at the Providence Marriott.  The workshop focused on women's heart health and was supported by The Women's Cardiac Center at Miriam.  Organizers and attendees wore red or a Heart Truth Red Dress Pin that they received upon arriving at the event.  More than 450 women attended a variety of educational sessions, health screenings, and a luncheon with a spring fashion show.

Throughout the day, participants walked around the main exhibit hall and visited health booths sponsored by local health vendors.  The attendees also received blood glucose, osteoporosis, stroke, blood pressure, and cholesterol screenings.  Each attendee had a chance to attend three of 19 health sessions throughout the day with focuses on women's health topics including body acceptance, hormones and heart disease, spirituality, and diabetes.  The workshop's luncheon featured a fashion show sponsored by Filene's and Swarovski.  Models wore designs from Filene's, as well as Swarovski's Little Red Dress Collection.

St. Anthony Medical Center—Rockford, Illinois
May 1, 2004
St. Anthony's Medical Center celebrated the opening of its women's cardiac unit by hosting a day of heart health screenings for the Rockford community.  More than 150 women took advantage of the opportunity to receive cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose screenings, as well as bone scans for osteoporosis. Several information booths provided information about nutrition, physical fitness, and healthy cooking.  All attendees received a free women's health day planner and a heart healthy recipe kit, in addition to The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women and a Red Dress Pin.

The day ended with a wine and cheese reception for hospital staff and local community leaders to celebrate St. Anthony's commitment to women's heart health.  The evening included two speeches by cardiologists from St. Anthony's and a female heart attack survivor.  The Heart Truth was highlighted in each speech and the dresses were on display for the guests.

The Wellness Connection of the Miami Valley—Dayton, Ohio
May 7, 2004
The Wellness Connection of the Miami Valley held a Red Dress Gala at the Schuster Performing Arts Center in downtown Dayton.  More than 400 men and women attended the gala event, which included a silent auction, live auction, fashion show featuring red gowns worn by local women, elegant dinner, and dancing with music provided by a live band.  Nearly 70 items were available for auction, including weekend getaways, golf lessons, and jewelry.

Fifty women of all ages descended a staircase wearing red gowns that they had made, purchased, or that had been donated to them by local cardiologists.  Air Force cadets escorted each woman during her "debut." Many of the women were heart disease survivors or had a personal connection to heart disease.  The atrium of the Schuster Center was decorated in red and white and the Red Dress Display was featured on stage near the band.  Each table had a handmade red dress centerpiece, and an ice sculpture featuring a red dress was also on display.  Dayton Heart Hospital sponsored the event with additional sponsors including Fifth Third Bank, The Dayton Heart Center, AstraZeneca, and Guidant.

A Woman's Place at St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center—Green Bay, Wisconsin
June 5, 2004
The Women's Heart Initiative at A Woman's Place, St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center, hosted the Red Dress Collection on Saturday, June 5, at Simon Bay Park Square Mall in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  The Woman's Place staff wore elegant red dresses to draw attention to the display.  They distributed Red Dress Pins, Healthy Heart Handbooks, Heart Truth brochures, and Red Dress postcards to women walking by.  A local cardiologist was on hand to answer questions.  Visitors also browsed the adjacent display where 25 students from the local technical college and several high schools displayed red dress sketches they had designed in support of women's heart health.  A few local artists also displayed red dress sketches, some accompanied by artists' statements about the importance of their heart-focused work.  Local Girl Scout troops created a quilt featuring women's heart health that was displayed throughout the day.  More than 700 women walked away with information about their heart health, and hundreds more viewed the display and signage—many commenting that they had no idea heart disease was their #1 killer.

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