6 minute read

Go Red for Women!

GO RED!

FOR WOMEN

Photography: Victoria Angela Photography |

Location: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

Fifteen years ago, Go Red for Women was born as a campaign to raise awareness among women about their great health threat — heart disease. Slowly, the campaign grew into a movement — one that not only brought together thousands of women annually but became the trusted, passionate, relevant force for change to eradicate heart disease and stroke all over the world.

Go Red for Women provides a platform for women and their families to lead healthier lives, and drive collective action for community transformation. It’s not just about wearing red; it’s not just about sharing heart health facts. It’s about:

• Providing women with opportunities to prioritize and take charge of their own health;

• Building communities that support and provide access to healthy choices;

• Demanding equal access to healthcare for all women and their families;

• Increasing women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in upcoming generations.

2019 GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON CHAIR

Dana Bledsoe President, Nemours Children’s Hospital and Enterprise Vice President, Nemours Children’s Health System

The Go Red for Women luncheon continues to serve as the cornerstone event of the Go Red for Women movement in local communities. This empowering event focuses on preventing heart disease and stroke by promoting healthy lifestyles, building awareness and raising critically-needed funds to support research and education initiatives. Cardiovascular diseases, which include stroke, claim the life of a woman about every 80 seconds, but about 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases may be prevented.

“It’s an absolute honor and a delight to be involved in the 15th anniversary of the Go Red celebration in Central Florida. For 15 years the American Heart Association has been making an impact in the lives of women and yet, there is still so much more work that needs to be done. As a healthcare organization it was a tremendous opportunity as we employ a large number of women. It’s so important. And the numbers are absolutely staggering when we think about the impact of heart disease on women,” says Dana Bledsoe, president, Nemours Children’s Hospital, and 2019 Go Red for Women Luncheon chair.

To celebrate the milestone and bring more awareness, the 15 Reasons I Need You campaign was created to encourage people to share their reasons for “going red” on social media at #OrlandoGoesRed.

“This is about the ‘15 reasons why’ because as women we are most motivated by the children in our lives. We want to inspire women to make time for themselves and do the things they need to do so they are around for those children,” Dana explains.

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CIRCLE OF RED MEMBERS

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Front: WENDY BRANDON, ERICKA DUNLAP and KRISTEN ACKLEY; Back: BRITTANY GRUBER and VICTORIA ANGELA

The 2019 Go Red for Women Luncheon will be held on Friday, February 15 at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando. The event aims to raise critical funds in the fight against the No. 1 and No. 5 killers of women — heart disease and stroke. The luncheon will celebrate the 15th anniversary of Go Red for Women and feature delicious food, inspiring stories, a survivor fashion show presented by Macy’s, a silent auction and much more.

“This is a time to celebrate what has happened in the past 15 years and look forward to and contribute to the advancements that will be made in the next 15 years. I have a great committee that is working so hard to make this luncheon extraordinary,” Dana says.

To reserve your seats, visit OrlandoGoRed.Heart.org.

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The time is now. Women are leaning into the idea that when we take a stand, commit, and work together, real change is possible

Left to right: JILL SCHWARTZ, YOLANDA MCLEOD TERRY, KYLE SANDERS, KIM STRONG and BERNADETTE SPONG

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THEIR REASONS WHY

“My reason why is my family. Women don’t typically take the time to care for themselves because they are caring for everyone else, but the importance of self-care is because our families need us! Know the signs, know your body, and do it for your kids!” – Jessica Kendrick, Kendrick Law Group and Champion Title & Closing

2019 CO-CHAIRS

Victoria Angela

“I take care of myself and my health so I can be around those that I love (of course my husband and fur babies) but also for my business, which is capturing the love and first of many chapters that our couples will experience in life. It is such an honor to be the one who is trusted to preserve their memories to cherish for generations.” – Victoria Angela, Victoria Angela Photography

Jessica Kendrick

Left to right: GLORIA CAULFIEND, JAYNE WILLIS, SECILY WILSON, MAGGIE BURDETTE and KARI FLECK

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Left to right: ANDREA MASSEY FARRELL, DARLENE STEVENS, MIKE CLELLAND, GABRIELE GANNAWAY and CAMILLE EVANS

CIRCLE OF RED

Circle of Red is a society of individuals

CIRCLE OF RED MEMBERS

Kristen Ackley Megan Core

Brittany GruberBernadette Spong

who have the passion, the motivation and

Rajia AckleyDavid Cross

Leigh Ann HortonDarlene Stevens

inspiration to drive and influence change

Rachna AtwalEllen Dadlani

Liz JonesKim Strong

regarding heart health of women in their

Kim BellDebra Davis

Dr. Swathy KolliJayne Willis

community and across the country. Circle

Dana BledsoeEricka Dunlap

Eva KrzewinskiSecily Wilson

of Red members help support the mission

Wendy BrandonCamille Evans

Andrea Massey FarrellLisa Zacher

of Go Red for Women by making a per-

Tere BrunKari Fleck

Yolanda McLeod Terrysonal financial commitment to the move-

Maggie BurdetteGabriele Gannaway

Sonja Nicholsonment.

Gloria CaulfiendChris Gearity

Lorraine ParkerCIRCLE OF RED CHAIRS

Jessica Kendrick | Victoria Angela

Christy Clelland Mike Clelland Beth Clift

Sarah Geltz Dr. Deborah German Crystal Grohowski

Cindy Reed Kyle Sanders Jill Schwartz

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Left to right: RAJIA ACKLEY, SONJA NICHOLSON, CHRIS GEARITY, CHRISTY CLELLAND, LORRAINE PARKER, LIZ JONES and DEBRA DAVIS

GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON

Friday, February 151O:30am – 2pm

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando

For more information or to get involved, contact Christy Clelland at christy.clelland@heart.org or 407-481-6317 or visit orlandogored.heart.org.

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