title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN CELEBRATION OF THE 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST LADIES HEALTH INITIATIVE
WHEREAS, The First Ladies Health Initiative pilot program began in June, 2008 in Chicago, with 13 First Ladies collectively representing churches across the city. It was an historic, city-wide health day to provide information and screenings for diabetes, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, mental illness, breast cancer, Alzheimer’s and other diseases along with flu immunizations; and
WHEREAS, The First Ladies Health Initiative is designed to bring awareness to illnesses that disproportionately affect African-Americans and Latinos and to offer FREE health screenings to individuals in their communities; and
WHEREAS, The First Ladies Health Initiative is sponsored by Walgreens and managed by Chicago’s African American public relations agency, Danielle Ashley Group with Tracey Alston as the executive director. The Initiative also consist of many participating healthcare providers such as Harmony Well Care, Gilead, Pfizer, the Illinois Department of Public Health, American Diabetes Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Haymarket Center, the American Heart Association, as well as the Coalition of the Willing which comprises over 30 healthcare companies, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, NBC-5 Chicago, pharmaceutical and nursing students; and thousands of volunteers, including members of the LINKS and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; and
WHEREAS, Collaboratively the First Ladies, Danielle Ashley Group, and Walgreens initiated an HIV/AIDS Task Force which culminated in the formation of the Walgreens First Ladies Health Day; and
WHEREAS, The First Ladies Health Day which is the largest health day in the nation of its kind is held annually in Chicago, IL., Gary, IN., Los Angeles, Orange County, CA., and Cincinnati, OH. The program begins with a luncheon that’s attended by nearly 200 pastor’s wives, who hear information from medical professionals on how to educate their communities about various illnesses; and
WHEREAS, Since 2009 the First Ladies Health Day has provided free health screening to over 30K people throughout Chicago, surrounding states and now California; and
WHEREAS, On May 20, 2012 The Inaugural First Ladies Los Angeles Health Screening Day took place; and
WHEREAS, In June of 2014, the Danielle Ashley Group was the only African American, women-owned agency at the Public Relations Society of America Ceremony in New York City. Mrs. Tracey Alston was awarded the Silver Anvil Award of Excellence, in the public service (Partnerships) category for developing the First Ladies Health Initiative in Chicago and Los Angeles; and
WHEREAS, In 2015 The First Ladies Health Initiative, had enabled more than 75,000 individuals to get screened for illnesses. The effort has expanded to now include Gary, IN, Los Angeles, Orange County, CA, and Cincinnati, OH; and
WHEREAS, In 2016 in Chicago, three predominately Hispanic house of worships: Christian Fellowship Flock South, Iglesia Bautista Casa Degracia, and Rebano Church became a part of The First Ladies Health Initiative program; and
WHEREAS, The result was the First Ladies Health Initiative which has expanded tremendously- starting with the wives of 13 pastors in Chicago to 172 First Ladies across all denominations between the ages of 31-83 from Chicago, Gary, Los Angeles, Orange County, and Cincinnati; and
WHEREAS, Tracey Alston, the founder of Danielle Ashley Group and the executive director of the First Ladies Health Initiative says she’s proud to be a part of a true sisterhood of organized women working together for the health of the community; and
WHEREAS, Walgreens Corporation support of the First Ladies Health Initiative started when it launched; and, today, they continue to share a common mission of creating healthier communities; and
WHEREAS, On June 16, 2018 we recognize and celebrate the 10th year anniversary and officially kickoff the First Ladies Health Initiative for 2018; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and Cook County Board of Commissioners congratulates, and recognize the outstanding achievements of the First Ladies Health Initiative for nearly saving hundreds of thousands of lives; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution is spread upon the permanent record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, and that a suitable copy of this resolution will be prepared and presented to the First Ladies Health Initiative.
end