MEDIA RELEASE

Marcella Stroh (left), 2011 AHA event co-chair, Jay Ignacio, HELCO President and Shauna Tuohy, AHA Regional Director-Hawaii Island

(HILO)—Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) has provided a $7,500 grant to the American Heart Association to support its 14th Annual Hilo Start! Heart Walk and Health Fair.

“HELCO is very proud to support such an important event,” said HELCO President Jay Ignacio. “It brings our community together to raise funds to fight heart disease and stroke and inspires us to live a healthy lifestyle.”

The event is an opportunity for people to improve their health by walking and simultaneously raising funds to help fight heart disease and stroke. It includes a health fair to raise awareness of heart-healthy living in a fun, family, and community environment. The event will be held on Feb. 26, 2011 at Liliuokalani Gardens in Hilo.

“The American Heart Association values the dedicated support of Hawaii Electric Light Company with its commitment to improving the overall health of Hawaii Island residents,” said AHA Regional Director Shauna Tuohy. “HELCO’s support of the Hilo Start! Heart Walk has helped raise significant dollars that have enabled the AHA to expand its education reach in the medically-underserved populations, with high health-risk groups, in workplaces, in the community, at healthcare facilities and in schools.”

At the 2010 Start! Heart Walk, 1,102 walkers raised $133,148 for the American Heart Association. HELCO was one of 50 companies that proudly participated in the event. The HELCO team of more than 52 employees and their families raised $5,245 to fund the fight against heart disease and stroke.

Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. To help prevent, treat and defeat these diseases — America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers — it funds cutting-edge research, conducts lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocates to protect public health. To learn more or join the AHA in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org