CARIBOU, Maine—The AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation program, Connections for Cardiovascular Health^{SM, today announced a grant of more than $276,000 to Cary Medical Center in Caribou in support of the center's Healthy Hearts - Healthy Community program. This is the second consecutive year that Cary Medical Center has received a grant from the Connections for Cardiovascular Health.}

Healthy Hearts - Healthy Community is designed to encourage healthy life-style choices in rural Northern Maine. The program works to improve access to healthcare for low-income families. The program intends to reduce incidence of cardiovascular-related morbidity, mortality, and cost burden and to increase quality of life while creating and promoting the identity of northern Maine as a dedicated model for improved cardiovascular health and disease outcomes.

“AMHC is very pleased to continue our partnership with Astrazeneca and Cary Medical Center in the integration of physical and behavioral health, and efforts to work with our community to create healthier hearts and a healthier community,” said Peter McCorison, from AMHC. “Clearly, AMHC and Cary really look to changes in diet and changes in physical activity as a prescription for the future. This is really a way that our community, and our society can move forward in creating greater well-being not only just for heart, but for the other major chronic diseases that are so impacting on our community.

The Healthy Hearts - Healthy Community program will look to expand on 2011 initiatives, including a TV/DVD series, Healthy Hearts Club community interactive and educational events, and clinical nutritional counseling of patients with established cardiovascular disease. The program will expand its emphasis on families and children, diabetes patients and healthy lifestyles transformation while improving accessibility to opportunities for improved nutrition and physical activity for low income populations.

Connections for Cardiovascular Health was launched in 2010 through a charitable contribution of $25 million from AstraZeneca. The program awards grants of $150,000 and up to US-based non-profit organizations that are doing innovative work in the field of cardiovascular health. Those individuals who do not have health insurance or are underinsured will be given the option of establishing a medical home with the Pines Health Services, a Federally Qualified Health Center providing increased access to patients who are facing financial hardship.