Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM Announces $155,000 Grant to Allegiance Health Foundation

JACKSON, Mich. --(Business Wire)--

The AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation's Connections for Cardiovascular Health^SM program today announced a grant of $155,000 to the Allegiance (News - Alert) Health Foundation in Jackson in support of the Health Improvement Organization/Community Hearts (Project Access) initiative. This is the second consecutive year that the Allegiance Health Foundation has received a grant from the Connections for Cardiovascular Health program, for a total of $305,000 to date.

The Health Improvement Organization Community Hearts' Project Access program aims to identify cardiovascular risk among uninsured/underinsured workers and provide them with navigation and resources to assist in risk reduction, health education and skill-building around healthy lifestyles and disease management.

After one full year of funding from the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation, participants in the program found to be at-risk achieved the following results:

55 percent decreased their cholesterol
25 percent decreased their low productivity
22 percent saw their illness days drop

"We are grateful to the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation for providing us with essential resources to reach uninsured residents of our community and better manage their cardiovascular health," said Amy Schultz, MD, Director of Prevention and Community Health. "This grant enhances our local Project Access program and supports the Health Improvement Organization's county-wide efforts to improve comunity health. The first year of funding helped hundreds of Project Access participants receive vital preventive screenings and resources and brought Electronic Benefit Transfer machines to our local farmers markets. This year's funding will continue to advance efforts to make healthy lifestyles more accessible to all."

This year, the program will further integrate its health management component with primary care though a shared electronic medical record and network-based navigator/health coaches who focuses on connecting patients with community programs and resources.

"Cardiovascular disease continues to be the nation's No. 1 killer, which is why we must work to decrease the risks of this devastating disease," said James W. Blasetto, M.D., MPH, FACC chairman of the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation. "The AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation is proud to provide funding to innovative, grassroots programs like Allegiance Health Foundation's Community Hearts Project, which work to help prevent and control the effects of cardiovascular disease in their community."

The Connections for Cardiovascular Health program awards grants of $150,000 and up to US-based non-profit organizations that are doing innovative work in the field of cardiovascular health. This year, the Foundation has awarded over $4.4 million in grants to 22 organizations. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded nearly $11 million across the United States to help improve cardiovascular health.

Organizations can learn more and apply online for a Foundation grant at www.astrazeneca-us.com/foundation. Applications must be submitted online no later than 5 p.m. EST on Feb. 28, 2013.

About Allegiance Health Foundation

Allegiance Health is a $419 million, 480-bed community-owned health system in Jackson, Michigan. Allegiance complements traditional acute care services with mission-based services that complete the care continuum for all members of the community. Through its Health Improvement Organization, Allegiance is also a national leader in forming community partnerships that innovatively address wellness and prevention needs in the community.

About the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation

Established in 1993, the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation is a Delaware not-for-profit corporation and a 501(c)(3) entity organized for charitable purposes including to promote public awareness of healthcare issues, to promote public education of medical knowledge and to support or contribute to charitable and qualified exempt organizations consistent with its charitable purpose. Connections for Cardiovascular Health was launched in 2010 through a charitable contribution of $25 million from AstraZeneca.