WWU Hope Heart Club Media Kit

Vanessa Sariego
Graeme Dyehouse
Alyssa Wilson

Table of Contents

Media backgrounder ..................................................................................... 1-6
FAQ ............................................................................................................... 6-7
Logo and Tagline .............................................................................................. 8
Feature story pitch .......................................................................................9-11
Radio PSA script ............................................................................................ 12
Photos ........................................................................................................ 13-14

WWU Hope Heart Club Media Backgrounder

Press Contact: Vanessa Sariego
vrsariego@gmail.com | (253)797-2704
Overview
The Hope Heart Club is an Associated Students club at Western Washington University. The
club is a university branch of The Hope Heart Institute, a nonprofit based in Bellevue,
Washington. Serving the community by providing cardiovascular education, the WWU Hope
Heart Club organizes outreach events to spread awareness about heart disease, the top cause of
death in United States. The mission of the group is to minimize the loss of life and quality of
life for people with reducible risk factors. Fostering a team of about 15 members, the club
utilizes informational pamphlets, interactive games, and other engaging tools to help
community members make heart-healthy decisions.

Current Activity
Heart disease remains the number one killer on a local, state, and national level. With a
majority of risk factors being behavioral rather than genetic, the Hope Heart Club focuses on
prevention and education. Fall quarter will place particular focus on healthy diet for lowincome families, a group vulnerable to cardiovascular disease due to food insecurity and lack of
proper nutrition.1 The club plans to educate at the source of many eating decisions: the local
grocery store. Partnering with Safeway and Mercy Housing, a national nonprofit for affordable
housing services, the Hope Heart Club will take families shopping and help bring healthy
habits into their homes. Implications of a bad diet and sedentary lifestyle are substantial when
considering heart disease and it is a top priority for the club to combat year-long.

Facts About Heart Disease

General:

Cardiovascular disease is challenging because first symptoms may occur during a fatal
event, such as a massive heart attack or stroke. Clinical prevention services (cholesterol
and blood pressure monitoring, blood glucose testing, knowledge of family history) are
particularly important in reducing cardiovascular events.2
Major causes of death and disability are associated with risk behaviors. Three of the top
four leading causes of death (cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic lower
respiratory disease) are conditions that develop over time and are associated with health
behaviors such as obesity, poor nutrition, physical inactivity and tobacco use.2

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Whatcom County:

In 2007, respondents who were more likely to have had a heart attack or myocardial
infarction include3:
Age 65 + (13%)
Retired (11%)
Fair/Poor health status (11%)
No children in the household (5%)
In 2007, those more likely to say they have had angina or coronary heart disease
include3:
Fair/Poor health status (15%)
Age 65+ (12%)
Retired (11%)
Rural area residents of the county (6%)
Have health care coverage (4%)

Between 1998 and 2002, 6102 Whatcom County residents died; this is an average of 1220
people per year. The leading cause of death was cardiovascular disease (CVD), followed
by cancer, injuries, and chronic lower respiratory disease.4
The largest forms of CVD were ischemic heart disease (48% of CVD deaths) and stroke
(23% of CVD deaths). Ischemic heart disease is caused by the build up of fat deposits in
the bodys major blood vessels and is generally considered to be preventable through a
healthy diet, adequate exercise and no tobacco use.4
One in 20 adults have had a heart attack, coronary heart disease, or angina. Compared
to Washington State there are no statistically detectable differences.1
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Washington state:

High blood pressure and

high blood cholesterol are
leading causes of
cardiovascular disease. In
Washington, 1 in 4 people have
high blood pressure and 1 in 3
have high blood cholesterol.5
Cardiovascular diseases heart disease and stroke
combined - are the leading
causes of death in Washington.6
The picture for stroke
mortality in the state is
alarming: 66 per 100,000
population, and the ninth highest in the nation. The national stroke mortality rate is 58
per 100,000 population.6
Stroke patients had a longer average length of stay (5.9 days) than did heart disease
patients (4.8 days). Hospitalization charges for CVD in 2002 were $1.7 billionthree to
forty times higher than hospitalization charges for other major chronic diseases.7
Only 28% of patients reported receiving rehabilitation following a heart attack or stroke.8

United States:

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women (1 in every 4
deaths). More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2009 were in men.8
More die of heart disease than of AIDS and all cancers combined.8
About 8.9 million Americans have chest pain (angina) caused by reduced blood flow to
the heart muscle which occurs when the coronary arteries become blocked with a buildup of plaque. 8
267,000 women die each year from heart attacks six times more than the number of
women who die from breast cancer. 8
An estimated 83.6 million American adults (>1 in 3) have 1 types of CVD. Of these, 42.2
million are estimated to be 60 years of age.9
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In every year since 1900 except 1918, CVD accounted for more deaths than any other
major cause of death in the United States. 9

Organization Biography

Anne Riski WWU Hope Heart Club Team Lead

anneriski27@gmail.com | (206) 491-0100
Anne Riski has had a personal connection to cardiovascular disease since her
grandfather passed away from heart failure when she was young. Now
planning to pursue a career developing health care policy, she began an
internship at the Hope Heart Institute after being introduced to the nonprofit at Westerns
Career and Internship Fair. Two years later, Anne became Team Lead for the WWU Hope
Heart Club. With a particular interest in spreading awareness about the preventability of heart
disease, Anne invests several hours a week in reaching out to her community. In her free time,
she volunteers at the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center and enjoys being with friends when she is not
studying.
Paloma Pirotte WWU Hope Heart Club Assistant Lead
palomap88@gmail.com

Boiler Plate

The Hope Heart Club is an Associated Students club under the service category at Western
Washington University. It is one of several Washington state university branches of the Hope
Heart Institute in Bellevue, Washington. The Hope Heart Institute is a nonprofit that provides
educational programs and funds local research on cardiovascular disease, the number one cause
of death in the United States. The club extends educational outreach on the preventability of
heart disease to Western and the greater Whatcom County community. To learn more about
the Hope Heart Club, please visit https://orgsync.com/50427/chapter.

Potential Interview Contacts

Melissa Morin
Community Health Specialist
Whatcom County Health Department
mmorin@whatcomcounty.us | (360) 676-6724 ext. #32027
John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH
Secretary of Health
Washington State Department of Health
Secretary@doh.wa.gov | (360) 236-4030
Lori Meyers
Communications Director
The Hope Heart Institute
lmeyers@hopeheart.org | (425) 456-8700
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Sources
Heart Disease and Stroke." Washington State Department of Health. Accessed October 24, 2014.
http://www.doh.wa.gov/DataandStatisticalReports/DiseasesandChronicConditions/
HeartDiseaseandStroke.
"Heart Disease: Scope and Impact." The Heart Foundation. Accessed October 24, 2014.
http://www.theheartfoundation.org/heart-disease-facts/heart-disease-statistics/.
"The Burden of Heart Disease and Stroke in Washington State." Washington State Department of
Health. Accessed October 24, 2014.
http://www.doh.wa.gov/portals/1/Documents/Pubs/340-217-HDSPBurden.pdf.
The Gilmore Research Group. "A Survey of Whatcom County Adults." Whatcom County Health
Department. Accessed October 24, 2014.
http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/health/pdf/brffs-survey.pdf.
"The Hope." The Hope Heart Institute. Accessed October 24, 2014. http://www.hopeheart.org/.
Turner, M. B., R. W. Neumar, G. Nichol, D. K. Pandey, D. Woo, N. D. Wong, S. S. Virani, T. N.
Turan, A. Towfighi, J. Stein, P. D. Sorlie, M. J. Reeves, M. E. Mussolino, N. P. Paynter, R.
H. Mackey, L. D. Lisabeth, S. Franco, C. S. Fox, E. S. Ford, S. Dai, M. J. Blaha, J. D. Berry,
E. J. Benjamin, C. S. Moy, V. L. Roger, D. Mozaffarian, H. J. Fullerton, C. Gillespie, J. H.
Lichtman, D. T. Lackland, S. J. Kittner, B. M. Kissela, S. E. Judd, M. D. Huffman, E. R.
Mohler, V. J. Howard, J. A. Heit, S. M. Hailpern, A. S. Go, D. K. Mcguire, D. B. Matchar,
A. Marelli, G. M. Marcus, and D. J. Magid. "Executive Summary: Heart Disease and
Stroke Statistics--2014 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association."
Circulation 129, no. 3 (2014): 399-410.
"Washington Fact Sheet." American Heart Association. Accessed October 24, 2014.
http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heartpublic/@wcm/@adv/documents/downloadable/ucm_307218.pdf.
"Whatcom County Chronic Disease Profile." Washington State Department of Health. Accessed
October 24, 2014. http://www.doh.wa.gov/portals/1/Documents/Pubs/345-271ChronicDiseaseProfileWhatcom.pdf.
"Whatcom County Community Health Assessment." Washington State Department of Health.
Accessed October 24, 2014.
http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1200/WhatcomCHA2012.pdf.
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Whatcom County Health Department. "Causes of Death." Whatcom County Public Health.
Accessed October 24, 2014.
http://www.whatcomcounty.us/health/pdf/causes_of_death.pdf.

"WhatcomCountyChronicDiseaseProfile,"WashingtonStateDepartmentofHealth,accessedOctober24,2014,
http://www.doh.wa.gov/portals/1/Documents/Pubs/345271ChronicDiseaseProfileWhatcom.pdf.
2
"WhatcomCountyCommunityHealthAssessment,"WashingtonStateDepartmentofHealth,accessedOctober
24,2014,http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1200/WhatcomCHA2012.pdf.
3
TheGilmoreResearchGroup,"ASurveyofWhatcomCountyAdults,"WhatcomCountyHealthDepartment,
accessedOctober24,2014,http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/health/pdf/brffssurvey.pdf.
4
WhatcomCountyHealthDepartment,"CausesofDeath,"WhatcomCountyPublicHealth,accessedOctober24,
2014,http://www.whatcomcounty.us/health/pdf/causes_of_death.pdf.
5
HeartDiseaseandStroke,"WashingtonStateDepartmentofHealth,accessedOctober24,2014,
http://www.doh.wa.gov/DataandStatisticalReports/DiseasesandChronicConditions/HeartDiseaseandStroke.
6
"TheBurdenofHeartDiseaseandStrokeinWashingtonState,"WashingtonStateDepartmentofHealth,
accessedOctober24,2014,http://www.doh.wa.gov/portals/1/Documents/Pubs/340217HDSPBurden.pdf.
7
"WashingtonFactSheet,"AmericanHeartAssociation,accessedOctober24,2014,
http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heartpublic/@wcm/@adv/documents/downloadable/ucm_307218.pdf.
8
"HeartDisease:ScopeandImpact,"TheHeartFoundation,accessedOctober24,2014,
http://www.theheartfoundation.org/heartdiseasefacts/heartdiseasestatistics/.
9
Turner,M.B.,R.W.Neumar,G.Nichol,D.K.Pandey,D.Woo,N.D.Wong,S.S.Virani,T.N.Turan,A.Towfighi,J.
Stein,P.D.Sorlie,M.J.Reeves,M.E.Mussolino,N.P.Paynter,R.H.Mackey,L.D.Lisabeth,S.Franco,C.S.Fox,E.
S.Ford,S.Dai,M.J.Blaha,J.D.Berry,E.J.Benjamin,C.S.Moy,V.L.Roger,D.Mozaffarian,H.J.Fullerton,C.
Gillespie,J.H.Lichtman,D.T.Lackland,S.J.Kittner,B.M.Kissela,S.E.Judd,M.D.Huffman,E.R.Mohler,V.J.
Howard,J.A.Heit,S.M.Hailpern,A.S.Go,D.K.Mcguire,D.B.Matchar,A.Marelli,G.M.Marcus,andD.J.Magid.
"ExecutiveSummary:HeartDiseaseandStrokeStatistics2014Update:AReportFromtheAmericanHeart
Association,"Circulation129,no.3(2014):399410.

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WWU Hope Heart Club Top Ten FAQs

1. What is the Hope Heart Club?
The Hope Heart Club is an Associated Students club at Western Washington
University. The club serves as a university branch of The Hope Heart Institute in
Bellevue, Washington. The mission of the Hope Heart Club is to minimize the
loss of life from cardiovascular disease by educating on reducible risk factors and
to improve the quality of life for those who have been affected by heart-related
illnesses.
2. Why should I join?
The Hope Heart Club is a compassionate, driven, student-ran organization for a
legitimate cause. If you care about the quality of life of your community or have
been touched by heart disease in any way, this club should be highly considered
for your participation and support.
3. What type of events does Hope Heart Club organize?
In the past, the Hope Heart Club has been present at elementary schools,
farmers markets, community centers, and gyms. Their focus being on
community outreach, the club tables at many high-volume areas around
Bellingham and Blaine. They provide informational pamphlets, interactive
games, and positive faces to communicate about the preventative nature of heart
disease.
4. What kind of information does the club share at outreach events?
The information shared varies by each outreach event and different audiences.
The information ranges from pamphlets to interactive games, depending on the
audience.
5. How do I get the WWU Hope Heart Club to come to one of my events?
The most effective way to get the Hope Heart Club to come to an event is by
contacting the team lead, Anne Riski, directly.
6. Is this a student-led club?
Yes, this is a student-led club. Anne Riski, team lead, organizes events with the
teams help. The club also works with the Hope Heart Institute in Bellevue,
Washington when planning certain events and in order to receive correlating
materials to use.

7. Can anyone join?

Any current Western student can join this club. WWU Hope Heart Club is
always looking for volunteers and welcomes new members.
8. How much time would I have to devote to the club if I were to join?
WWU Hope Heart Club is flexible with its members. One to four hours per week
is the average amount of time students put toward this club. However, members
are not required to attend every outreach event.
9. What is the best way to contact the club?
The best form of contact is by email; contact Anne Riski, team lead, at
Riskia@students.wwu.edu.
10. Where are meetings held?
Date and times of WWU Hope Heart Club meetings vary depending on
upcoming events. The team lead sends out emails informing the rest of the club
when and where the next one will be held. To be put on this email list, email
Anne Riski, team lead, at Riskia@students.wwu.edu.

Logo

Tagline

Dont miss a beat.

October 23, 2014

Dear Katy Garza and Caity Walthall,

On the second ring, Annes mother picked up the expected, but dreaded phone call. After
suffering heart problems, Annes grandpa passed away. The news brought nothing but tears and
sorrow, filled the Riski home-- heart disease struck again.
After Anne lost her grandfather to heart disease, she knew that she wanted to make a
difference in some way. Anne Riski, Team Lead of Western Washington Universitys Hope
Heart Club, strives to make a difference in lives of students and community throughout
Whatcom County by teaching what it means to make heart healthy decisions and how to do so.
Majoring in kinesiology, she continues to make moves to accomplishing this goal within the
Hope Heart Club and her post-graduate life in the future.
The Hope Heart Club Works within Whatcom County and Western to educate people of
cardiovascular disease and how to make simple life decisions that will help avoid heart disease.
They have outreach events at elementary schools, farmers markets, community centers and
gyms. Depending on the events, the club has different information varying from pamphlets to
interactive games that help inform people on how to make heart healthy decisions. Heart disease
is the number one killer of all people in America and its very preventable. Only a small portion
of it is genetic. In January, the WWU Hope Heart Club with be working with Safeway, one of
the clubs partners, and helping low income families shop in a way to make heart healthy
decisions in order to bring healthy habits into the households.

This story is important to The Western Fronts audience for the following reasons:

WWU Hope Heart Club is in sponsored through the Hope Heart Institute, a charity based
in Bellevue. There are clubs at universities throughout Washington, and this is Westerns,
that involves approximately 15 members.
Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in America.
Every 40 seconds someone dies from cardiovascular disease.
Heart attacks dont typically happen until later in life, but taking care of your body now
affects the risk for heart disease in the future.

Heart troubles, such as clogged arteries can start as soon as childhood and only get worse.
As college students its easy to get in bad eating habits that are affordable, its important
for people to understand the risks of these unhealthy habits.
Its a lot easier to be physically active and stay active if you start at a young age.
Smoking raises the risk for heart problems significantly, even second hand smoke.
Thirty-three percent of college students smoke, raising their risk for heart troubles in the
future.

Figure1 Anne Riski, 21, (left) sits at the Hope Heart Clubs information booth awaiting
community members to educate about heart disease and how to live healthy lives.

Potential interviews:
Carrie Nass
cnass@hopeheart.org
Hope Heart Institute community outreach coordinator
This would be a good source because she is very familiar with the organization and does all the
planning for large events in addition to watching over the college Hope Heart Clubs.
Anne Riski
(206)491-0100
Team lead
Paloma Pirotte
(206) 586-6582
A member of the club that assists Anne a lot with planning and events. She would be a helpful

source because she has known Anne for most of her life, and also does a lot of work for the Hope
heart Institute.
Photo opportunities:

During the Safeway event to teach low income families hot to make heart-healthy
decisions, there will be many great photo opportunities.
Within the next two weeks, there will be a meeting held for the entire club, the day and
time is to be determined.
In addition to the club, Anne does an internship to help children with special needs learn
how to swim on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This might be a cool addition to the feature
story and would be another opportunity for pictures.

Again, cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in America, so educating the people of
our community is an important message to spread. Riskis personal experience with heart disease
in her family combined with being the team lead for this club would add great perspective to this
story from a few angles. To find out more information on the WWU Hope Heart Club, go to
https://orgsync.com/50427/chapter or the main institutes website, http://www.hopeheart.org.

Thank you for your time,

Alyssa Wilson
(253) 651-0707
Wilso213@students.wwu.edu

For Immediate Release

Nov. 4, 2014
Press Contact: Vanessa Sariego; vrsariego@gmail.com; (253)797-2704
Organization Website: https://orgsync.com/50427/chapter

WWU Hope Heart Club Radio PSA Script

:30
Your heart is your lifeline. Thats why its important to take extra care in keeping it,
and you, healthy. Heart disease is the number one killer in Whatcom County and the
U.S. More people die from cardiovascular disease in this country than AIDS and all
forms of cancer combined. Yet it remains highly preventable. These conditions are
linked to obesity, poor nutrition, physical inactivity and tobacco use. Please, visit W-WW dot hope heart dot org to learn more about avoiding cardiovascular disease. Dont
miss a beat.

Photos