Supervalu, American Heart Association Partner to Fight Cardiovascular Disease
Supervalu Executive Pamela Knous was
named the Twin Cities Go Red for Women
2007-2008 campaign chair.
In an effort to change the alarming statistics about heart disease, Pamela Knous, Supervalu executive vice president and financial officer, is leading the charge to raise funds throughout the community to support the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement. The program is part of a national movement to raise awareness surrounding the dangers of cardiovascular disease and to motivate women to take action in reducing those risks.
“While more and more women are becoming aware that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, they have yet to own it personally in their daily lives and actions,” says Kay Ulwelling, director of the Twin Cities Go Red For Women campaign. “Women are often the heart of the family, charged with making most of the food, activity, and healthcare decisions, so it is imperative that they are informed, not only for their own health, but also the health of their families.”
As the 2008 Twin Cities campaign chair of Go Red For Women, Knous’ goal is to help raise funds in local communities and conduct various educational outreach activities focusing on the importance of heart health. She also strives to inspire women to commit to heart-healthy lifestyles.
“Go Red for Women celebrates the energy, passion and power women have to band together and wipe out heart disease, which impacts mothers, sisters, neighbors, friends and women in all walks of life,” says Knous. “I’m pleased to support this campaign, and, as a leading Twin Cities-based grocery retail and supply chain company, Supervalu is committed to this effort.”
“I am thrilled with the support we’ve received from our friends in the business community,” says Knous. “Many companies, as well as individuals, have joined Supervalu in this important effort, and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank those companies and all the volunteers who are helping to make this year’s campaign a success.”
Harmonious with her fundraising efforts, Knous’ heart health education crusade emphasizes the simple steps women can take to lead heart-healthy lifestyles. She underlines the importance of knowing your cholesterol level, blood pressure, and body mass index, in addition to recognizing heart attack and stroke warning signs, making healthy food choices, celebrating each birthday with a checkup, getting proper exercise, and not smoking (or quitting if you do smoke).
“The facts can be frightening, but I like to remind people that their hearts and health are in their hands,” explains Knous. “It’s never too late to start leading a heart-healthy lifestyle. The bottom line is that heart disease is largely preventable through the choices you make, no matter how old you are or the decisions you’ve made in the past.”
The American Heart Association believes the partnership with Knous and Supervalu has elevated the local campaign to new levels.
“We are so pleased to have Pam as our campaign chair,” Ulwelling says. “As a leader in this community and as a businesswoman working in a consumer-based market, she understands the needs of both our corporate sponsors and the women that Go Red For Women seeks to connect with. She’s passionate, driven, and persuasive about business and about women.”
Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of more than 500,000 women every year in the United States. More women die from cardiovascular disease than from all forms of cancer combined.
Go Red For Women encourages women to learn about prevention, symptoms, and treatment of cardiovascular disease so they can protect themselves and the women in their lives. Make red your color and join the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement. For more information, visit
www.goredforwomen.org.
