Thousands Get Health Screenings and "Zumba" Towards Better Health at
On Sunday, August 21st, the Hispanic Federation hosted its 5th annual family celebration of ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving! (GUGM) at the Fordham Road Renaissance Festival. GUGM New York 2011 attracted thousands of Latino individuals and families to participate in dance demonstrations and fun physical activities and receive critical health screenings and referrals. Zumba workout sessions, capoeira training and Latin dance competition were among the activities that received widespread participation from Bronx residents of all different ages. The event also featured hours of live entertainment and music. "Las Gemelas" Lulu y Lala, from Univision Radio’s 96.3 FM served as MCs of the event while NYS Senator Gustavo Rivera and NYS Assemblyman Nelson Castro greeted the audience and served as judges during the dance competition. Presented Locally By:
“Get Up! Get Moving! is helping to save lives,” stated Lillian Rodríguez López, President of the Hispanic Federation. “This initiative has helped thousands of New Yorkers learn and take control of their blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, and other health issues, through screenings, informational chats and a focus on physical exercise. We are proud that this year we had over 30 partners joining us to provide free health services to our community.”
“Making movement a daily part of your life is one of the most important steps you can take for yourself and your family’s health,” said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the Alliance. “All of us who work on this effort are grateful to all our local partners, national media partner Univision Communications, and our national sponsor, Newman’s Own Foundation for making these events possible. Through ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!® we are committed to carrying out the legacy of Paul Newman to make the world a better place,” concluded Dr. Delgado.
Health screenings offered at the event included blood pressure, glucose, depression, HIV, oral exams, and sun damage, among others. Free or low cost referrals were also offered for colonoscopies, mammograms, pap exams, and prostate exams.
In addition to creating health awareness, the Hispanic Federation worked with local title sponsor Ford Motor Company, to collect canned food as part of the “Partners on the Go” hunger relief initiative. “Ford is committed to investing in programs that help improve communities,” said Jim Vella, President, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “We are proud to team up with Hispanic Federation on a citywide food drive during the Get Up! Get Moving! Health Fair and facilitate transportation of food donations to area food banks through the Partners on the Go Transit Connect van.”
Local presenting sponsors included Ford Motor Company, AstraZeneca, Coca Cola, Pfizer Helpful Answers, and Southwest Airlines.
Sponsored by the Alliance and the Health Foundation for the Americas, ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!® is the premier national family physical activity and healthy lifestyle event series with events in 10 cities expected to attract over 20,000 participants in 2011.
About the Hispanic Federation The Hispanic Federation is a member organization of 100 Latino health and human services agencies dedicated to promoting the social, political and economic well-being of the Latino community in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Hispanic Federation member agencies work in the areas of education, health, elderly services, child care, HIV/AIDS, housing and economic development. Each year, these agencies serve more than 2 million of the northeast region's most underprivileged and vulnerable Latinos. For more information, visit www.hispanicfederation.org or call the Federations toll-free hotline 1866- HF-AYUDA 1-866-432-9832 About the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance) The National Alliance for Hispanic Health is the nation's foremost source of information and trusted advocate for the health of Hispanics in the United States. The Alliance represents thousands of Hispanic health providers across the nation providing services to more than 15 million each year, making a daily difference in the lives of Hispanic communities and families. For more information, visit www.hispanichealth.org or call the Alliance’s toll-free Su Familia National Hispanic Family Health Helpline at 1-866-783-2645.
About the Health Foundation for the Americas (HFA) The Health Foundation for the Americas is the supporting organization of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health. HFA encourages philanthropy; advocates for the power and promise of Hispanic community-based solutions; and, challenges the medical and science communities to apply lessons learned from the Hispanic health experience to all communities. For more information, visit www.healthyamericas.org.
About ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!® In its fifth year, ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!® is the premier national family physical activity and healthy lifestyle event in the nation. These family-oriented events are organized by leading Hispanic community-based organizations and are tailored to the interests and cultures of each community. In 2011, ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!® events will be held in Albuquerque, NM; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Kennett Square, PA; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; Phoenix, AZ; Brownsville, TX; and San Diego, CA. The National Alliance for Hispanic Health and the Health Foundation for the Americas presents the series, along with its national sponsor, Newman’s Own Foundation, and national media partner, Univision Communication’s Salud es vida ¡Entérate! For more information call, 1-866-783-2645 or visit www.vivetuvida.org.
d our national sponsor, Newman’s Own Foundation for making these events possible. Through ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!® we are committed to carrying out the legacy of Paul Newman to make the world a better place,” concluded Dr. Delgado.