Chicago Auto Show 'Goes Red' to Help Women

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Feb 15, 2010, 10:32 ET

CHICAGO, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Flashes of scarlet will accent the Grand Concourse Lobby of the Chicago Auto Show on Tuesday, Feb. 16 as Dodge, Jeep, Ford, Chevrolet and Audi will come together in a special display featuring red vehicles to help promote the "Go Red for Women" program of the American Heart Association. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in America. In fact, more women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five leading causes of death combined—including cancer.

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"Drawing attention to the Heart Association's 'Go Red' program is a great way to take advantage of our large audience," said auto show Chairman John Phelan. "We're indebted to the participating manufacturers, and hope that our efforts will add an additional special awareness to this problem. Each of these manufacturers has graciously donated $1,000 to the American Heart Association in support of the program."

The American Heart Association will set up a special "Red Lounge" area just off the main concourse where women will be greeted and invited to help choose "Their Perfect Shade of Red Lipstick" and receive a makeup touchup by beauty consultants from Jafra Cosmetics. Then guests will be invited to get their picture taken with one of the red cars. Finally, as women leave the Red Lounge, they will write a Heart Healthy Promise on a poster board and fill out a Go Red registration card to be entered into a raffle for Jafra Cosmetic products.

The Go Red for Women movement was launched in February 2004 to celebrate the energy, passion and power of women to band together and eliminate heart disease. The goals of the group are simple:

Increase awareness and generate action
Change the environment to improve care
Drive treatment to American Heart Association Women's Guidelines
Raise funds to support awareness, education and research of heart disease in women

"This is a new initiative for the auto show, but, we think, an incredibly important one," said Phelan. "I think that in addition to the funds raised this year, the additional awareness we're able to generate for the 'Go Red' program will yield benefits long after we close our doors."

To join the "Go Red for Women" movement and for more information, visit www.goredforwomen.org.

The Chicago Auto Show runs through Feb. 21 at McCormick Place. Show hours are 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily except Feb. 21, when the show closes at 8 p.m. For a full schedule and show information, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com.

SOURCE Chicago Auto Show