The American Heart Association recently announced that Carleen Kelly of Basking Ridge, who is the EVP Group Management Director at ICCLowe and Jo Ann Saitta of Chester, who is the Chief Digital Officer at The CDM Group, will serve as co-chairs of the 13th Annual Garden State Go Red For Women Luncheon scheduled for Thursday, May 14, at the Imperia in Somerset. Pictured is Jo Ann Saitta of Chester. (courtesy photo)
The American Heart Association recently announced that Carleen Kelly of Basking Ridge, who is the EVP Group Management Director at ICCLowe and Jo Ann Saitta of Chester, who is the Chief Digital Officer at The CDM Group, will serve as co-chairs of the 13th Annual Garden State Go Red For Women Luncheon scheduled for Thursday, May 14, at the Imperia in Somerset.
With one in three women dying from heart disease and stroke each year, Kelly and Saitta have made a commitment with their leadership to helping empower women to live longer, stronger lives and beating American's No. 1 health threat: cardiovascular diseases.
"Women are busy taking care of their families and careers, so it's easy to forget that we need to take care of ourselves," notes Saitta. "As a survivor of cardiovascular disease, Go Red for Women is especially important to me because I realize the awareness on women and heart disease that is needed in our community and I am thrilled to be helping lead this movement in the Garden State."
The Go Red For Women Luncheon is one of the premier women's events in New Jersey focusing on cardiovascular health and wellness in women. As a cornerstone piece of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement, this social-educational event focuses attention on raising awareness and urging action to prevent or survive the No. 1 and No. 5 killers of women - heart disease and stroke. Nationally sponsored by Macy's, this vibrant movement celebrates the energy, passion and power that women have to break the barrier against heart disease and stroke.
"For so many years, heart disease was considered a man's or elderly person's condition and that's just not the case," states Kelly. "That's why it is important we help educate women about their number one killer and the fact that it is also preventable. That means empowering women to take better care of themselves so that one day heart disease and stroke will no longer be a major cause of death and disability."
In addition to their professional roles, Kelly and Saitta have served as volunteers with the American Heart Association for numerous years. Kelly currently serves as the chair of the Central New Jersey Board Directors. Saitta also serves on the same board and is recognized as a Go Red for Women Survivor Ambassador, sharing her personal experience with cardiovascular disease in order to help educate and inspire others.
Both Kelly and Saitta are using their expertise and passion for helping others to bring hundreds together at the Garden State Luncheon for a day of celebration, education and empowerment. Locally sponsored by Atlantic Health System, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Daichii Sankyo, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ, PSEG, The CDM Group and the Kurr Foundation, the event will include a silent auction, educational break-out sections and an inspiring keynote address by Dr. Donnica Moore, a highly regarded women's health expert and advocate, a physician educator and a media commentator. The event is also supported by local media sponsors including Gannett and Star 99.1FM.
For more information or tickets for the Garden State Go Red For Women Luncheon, visit http://GardenStateGoRedLuncheon.Heart.org or call the American Heart Association at 609.223.3679.