You can download the full report here or an edited version of the feature here.

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Remember when I vaguely mentioned about doing a photo shoot back in September?
Plus, I was nominated and awarded a Heart & Stroke Heroes Award by the American Heart Association?


Here's the story on that.

Its Thursday August 10th, 10:00 am and my phone rings. I don't recognize the number, usually I won't answer it unless I do...
but in this case I do anyway. It was the Communications Assistant of the American Heart Association’s National Center and
out of several stories that have passed through their office, they read a press release about my family after receiving the
Heart & Stroke Heroes Award. He was impressed with my website and then reading that article from the Northwest Herald
LIFESTYLE's cover story, they choose my family to be a featured story for the 2006 Annual Report.
I was absolutely shocked... but it was fantastic surprised because it was my birthday.

So a week later my mom and I did a phone interview with the Senior Communications Writer/Editor. That went really well. The writer
said, he's never spoke to such an open, honest and still enthusiastic family.

Then we set some dates aside for the photo shoot. It was either we flew down to Dallas or they come up here. Flying wasn't
an option at the time...So it was to be up here. It was one of two dates set aside in September. Eventually settling
which specific day it would be. And it was a very busy and hectic week.

The photo shoot was planned to be outdoors. The photographer and his stylist came up from Dallas two days prior to scout
out some various places. Especially parks. So it was a matter of coordinating clothes for the backdrop. Then the night before
there was a horrible storm and it was due to rain for most of the day.

Brad called me the night before, when he just got into Chicago and was talking about how he's such an optimist.

So we met at the Mariott Courtyard's on a Friday morning. He and Laura the designer were waiting for us. Then Tom Hussey
and his stylist Pat and their assistant met us not too long later. They were able to find a nice house in the area, last minute for the shoot.
It turned out to be one of the V.P. of the American Heart Association's brothers house. It was a fine house, in a fine neighborhood.
We followed Tom and this crew, while Brad and Laura followed us.

We got the house and they started setting up while we started settling in. Then my dad and I did a one and one shoot.
Then my mom and dad did a one on one shoot.

The weather cleared up and Brad was very optimistic and he ended up coming up with a nice outdoor shot. It worked.
It turned out to be really super nice and not too overcast.

After about four hours we were done. Said our good-byes and we went out for a Chinese Lunch.

During the time when my laptop's modem was getting repaired, I got an email from one of Jim's assistant...Tim.
They decided to do an extra feature in the Fundraising section of the Annual Report, about my unique way I am able to
raise money and awareness for the AHA.

I ended proofing a very nice length article about me towards the end.

So in the Annual Report I'm in two different sections.

We are representing the American Stroke Association section and I'm representing the Fundraising section.

I think it came out super nice.



Appearantly, I am the first artist to outfit my CDs with information, plus inserts from the AHA and
donate a portion of each sale to them. Besides that, the only one that does all of that...
That's pretty cool...

I never expect I'd get this kind of recognition for my advocacy work and that people would be inspired by the
way my mom and I care for my dad. I just wanted to be able to get the word out. I was naive and stupid when
my father's stroke happened. I wasn't prepared for anything. Life is still teaching me lessons.

When I first started working on a way to outfit my CDs in 2000, I just wanted to make contacts with certain people in
the organization and to make sure I wasn't stepping on any toes. In 2005, I started the "Take Heart <3frncs Cause"
to give me a way to do what I do as a musician and advocate, while forwarding on the missions of the AHA.
Four years ago I was figuring out a way where I could plan a Stroke Awareness Event...and a year ago the
Stroke Awareness Event because a reality as I was able to get help from the AHA itself.
It was a success... and the rest is history I guess.

I won't be able to put on a Chinese New Year Partry - Stoke Awareness event this year. It ended up getting
shelved back in November. The original venue has ultimately went through re-organization and a lot has changed.
I wanted a bigger venue so we wouldn't have the issue with room...The one i was hoping for didn't pan out and
my second option just never really got off the ground.

I'm looking into other options but I'm still in process of getting something in July together. Right now February
is a huge month with the Go Red for Women Movement.

February 2nd is National Wear Red Day and February is American Heart Month.

I'll be spending a lot of time at the "Take Heart <3frncs Cause" myspace page. So check it out when you get the
chance: www.myspace.com/144057190

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the story and that you get the opportunity to download either one of the
Annual Reports. Its a nice accomplishment for what I do...at I least I like to think so.


<3frncs