PORTLAND, Ore — The Regence Foundation announced today it awarded a $20,000 grant to the African American Health Coalition in Portland to hire three community nutrition educators for "Spice it up," a healthy eating program for the African American community.  Regence employees nominated the African American Health Coalition as part of Regence’s third annual employee-nominated Transformation Grant program.

"As a volunteer at the African American Health Coalition, I’ve seen firsthand the difference it makes in people’s lives," said Georgann Pierce, Regence employee and grant nominator.  "My favorite example is a woman I met when I was leading an aerobics class there.  She was 65 years old, and it was the first time she had ever exercised.  After attending the class for a while I saw her look in the mirror and say, 'I am beautiful!'  Now she is 71 years old and walking 12-minute miles."

Founded in 1989, the African American Health Coalition works to raise public and political awareness about health risks disproportionately affecting the Oregon’s African American residents. In addition, the coalition leads health-related outreach efforts to the African American community by recruiting lay leaders like beauty shop operators, fitness instructors and church leaders to help deliver health education.

"With obesity rates at 40 percent in the African American community, the work that the African American Health Coalition is doing to promote healthy lifestyles is critically needed," said Michael Alexander, Regence Foundation board chair. "Our mission is to fund collaborative and innovative community health programs, and we applaud the African American Health Coalition for the creative way they’re tackling the obesity epidemic."