For Immediate Release
May 09, 2014
Contact Information

Toiya Honore
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
(214) 706-1456
Toiya.honore@heart.org

Mara Silverio
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
(214) 706-1508
Mara.silverio@heart.org

(BPRW) Top 10 Final Voting Round Starts in Gospel Singing Competition for Stroke Awareness

(BLACK PR WIRE) — (DALLAS – May 9, 2014) — The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Most Powerful Voices gospel singing competition has announced its top 10 finalists. The Fan Favorite and the Judges Final round will run through May 15th.

While the Judges select the grand prize winner for Most Powerful Voices, you can vote daily for your personal Fan Favorite. Your support is vital as voting will help your favorite contestant get the chance to be reviewed by top industry judges - such as RCA Inspiration Artist Latice Crawford, A&R executives and a Roland Corporation musicality expert - and win $1,500 cash, $5000 in Roland instruments and gear. Most importantly, everyone receives stroke awareness information that can potentially save lives!

Encourage everyone you know to go online or download the smartphone app or android app for free to register and vote, today!

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and the No. 1 cause of preventable disability. More than 100,000 African-Americans will suffer a new or reoccurring stroke this year, which is why participants of the Most Powerful Voices competition receive stroke information. The sooner fans vote, the sooner they can help close the gap on racial disparities through stroke awareness.

“Stroke is a leading cause of severe, long-term disability and death for all Americans, and African-Americans are at increased risk due to higher prevalence of risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and previous heart attack and/or stroke,” said Dr. Rani Whitfield, a family practitioner in Baton Rouge, La., and an American Stroke Association spokesperson. “We need to reach as many people as possible to help them to reduce their risk and to know what to do in a stroke emergency to help improve stroke outcomes.”

Most Powerful Voices is an initiative of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Power To End Stroke cause campaign aimed at African-Americans, who are disproportionately affected by stroke. Power To End Stroke strives to close the stroke gap through culturally relevant events, tools and educational resources.

Contest participants must be 18 or older. The winner will be announced May 23. For more information, visit mostpowerfulvoices.org.

About the American Stroke Association
The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — America’s No. 4 killer and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association was created in 1997 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit strokeassociation.org.

About UP
UP, America’s favorite network for uplifting entertainment, is a 24-hour television network that provides high-quality, diverse, family-friendly programming, including original and premiere movies, theatricals, drama and comedy series, music and holiday specials. UP can be seen in more than 65 million homes in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) on cable systems including Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Charter and Cox Communications as well as DIRECTV (Channel 338), DISH Network (Channel 188) and Verizon FIOS (Channel 224). As part of its mission to entertain and uplift, the network’s pro-social initiative “Uplift Someone” reminds and inspires people to do simple acts of kindness. UP is also a service provider to its sister network ASPiRE. Based in Atlanta, UP is a division of UP Entertainment, LLC, which also offers gMovies, the first faith-friendly streaming movie service. Follow UP on the Web at www.UPtv.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UPtv, Twitter on @UPtv and Instagram at UP_TV.

About RCA Inspiration
RCA Inspiration is a gospel and inspirational record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Artists include Crystal Aikin, Darnell Davis, Dee-1, Deitrick Haddon, Deon Kipping, Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker & LFC, Israel Houghton, Jahmene Douglas, Jason Nelson, Kirk Franklin, Kurt Carr, Latice Crawford, Marvin Sapp, Richard Smallwood, SheNice Johnson, The Walls Group, William Murphy and more.

About Roland Corporation
Roland Corporation is a leading manufacturer and distributor of electronic musical instruments, including keyboards and synthesizers, guitar products, electronic percussion, audio recording equipment, amplifiers, vocal products, and more. Roland maintains strong support for the worship community at WorshipConnection.org, an online resource that provides insights from worship musicians, video demonstrations, artist interviews, a free e-newsletter, and many other great ministry tools.