Health Luncheon Attracts 100 First Ladies

The importance of healthy congregations was illustrated by the scores of pastors’ wives attending the First Ladies Health Luncheon held October 27 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Sponsored by Walgreens and produced by the Danielle Ashley Group, the event brought together more than 100 first ladies with medical experts outlining strategies to eliminate health disparities in their neighborhoods. 

Actress Sherri Shepherd, also co-host of ‘The View,’ delivered the keynote address on her life with diabetes as well as interviewed professionals, patients and caregivers in the fields of HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, Hepatitis C and heart disease.

The First Ladies Health Initiative is chaired nationally by Dr. Betty Price of Crenshaw Christian Center, and locally by Evelyn Perkins of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church and Yvette Williams, previously of Brookins Community A.M.E. Church.  The two-part annual campaign begins with the luncheon and culminates with a citywide health-screening day six months later.

The first ladies commit during the luncheon to participate in the health day by opening their church doors to free health screenings for their members and surrounding communities. The health day is sponsored by Walgreens, which arranges for a pharmacist to be available at every church to administer blood pressure screenings.

More than 30 churches in the metropolitan area, including locations in Hawthorne, Compton and Pasadena, simultaneously held free medical screenings during the inaugural Los Angeles health day in May. Health care experts reported that nearly 10,000 various screenings were performed.

More information on the First Ladies Health Initiative is available at FirstLadiesHealth.com

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