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Fazoli's Invites You to Join In the Fight Against
Women's Heart Disease
WomenHeart Partnership Offers Consumers Heart Health Information and Opportunity to Support a Cause Close to the Heart
In a nation all too aware of its obesity problem, January is a prime month for Americans
to resolve to lose weight. However, obesity is also a leading contributor to potentially
fatal diseases. Women are often aware of the risks for their husbands, fathers and sons,
but ironically, are far less knowledgeable about their health risks.
According to WomenHeart, a national patient advocacy organization representing women
living with heart disease, the leading cause of death among American. In 2005,
approximately 267,000 women will die from heart attacks in the United States -- six
times the number who will die from breast cancer.
"It's January and 'tis the season for many people to focus more on nutrition and fitness,"
said Nancy Loving, Executive Director of WomenHeart. "It's great to resolve to lose
weight or improve your general fitness after the holidays, but American women need to
know there is more to motivate them than a smaller dress size. Your very life may
depend upon becoming more physically fit and fitness knowledgeable in 2005."
Fazoli's, a fast, family-friendly Italian restaurant with 376 operations in 32 states, is
partnering with WomenHeart, January 10 through March 27, to raise awareness of heart
disease among women. Their goal is to educate women about where they can find
support, information and resources on cardiovascular disease, and to raise money for the
WomenHeart mission.
"When Fazoli's asked for my advice about what the company could do to raise awareness
about women and heart disease, I recommended WomenHeart," said Elizabeth Somer,
national nutrition expert and author, as well as Fazoli's spokesperson and nutritional
consultant. "I've worked with WomenHeart and have had the pleasure of speaking to
women living with heart disease. I believe the cause is an important one and that
WomenHeart's efforts deserve Fazoli's support."
Join the Fight at a Fazoli's Near You
Fazoli's has designed a vivid, 32-ounce collector's cup highlighting womens heart
disease. The idea is to encourage women to take heart health messages out of the
restaurants and into their communities.
In addition to highlighting WomenHeart, the cup features information on lycopene, a
chemical compound found in cooked tomatoes that medical research indicates fights
heart disease and cancer.
Materials distributed within the restaurants will encourage customers to consider one of
Fazoli's six Smart Italian Choices items, all of which have eight grams of fat or less.
With any purchase from the Smart Italian Choices menu, Fazoli's will donate a portion of
the proceeds to WomenHeart in addition to a $25,000 gift from the corporate office.
Look for the Little Red Dress
WomenHeart and other national organizations affiliated with the National Coalition for
Women with Heart Disease are using a Red Dress icon as part of their awareness and
education efforts.
"The Red Dress is the women's heart disease movement's pink ribbon or red ribbon, and
we believe that it will eventually be a symbol as recognized and powerful as the icons
used to raise awareness of breast cancer or AIDS," said Loving. "The Red Dress is on
promotional materials within Fazoli's restaurants now through March.
Fazoli's will also distribute free copies of a nutritional brochure developed in conjunction
with Elizabeth Somer. Somer, known best from her books and regular appearances on
"The Today Show," has personally endorsed Fazoli's Smart Italian menu options -
including the newest entree, Penne Marinara, as well as several other options such as
Ravioli Marinara, Baked Chicken Parmesan, Peppery Chicken Alfredo, Fettuccine
Alfredo with Broccoli and Tomatoes, and Chicken Caesar Salad with fat-free Dressing.
"Fazoli's is a great fit for our organization because the restaurant appeals to a wide
spectrum of people, but especially to women age 25 to 55 - an audience that needs to
know about a woman's risk for heart disease now," Loving said. "The menu is rich with
sound, healthy nutritional offerings, the restaurant's service meets the needs of today's
busy women, and Fazoli's is serious about offering a nutritionally balanced menu."
"If the company was not serious, they would not be consulting with Elizabeth Somer who
is well respected in the nutritional community for reserving her endorsements for
products that meet her high criteria for nutritional standards."
Read the literature Data That May Just Get Your Heart Racing
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