Online voting open until April 6;
voters to receive stroke information

DALLAS, March 29
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Stroke Association’s Most
Powerful Voices competition is in its final round and choirs need the
public to vote at http://choir.gospelmusicchannel.com.
 

Most Powerful Voices
competition engages competing choirs and voters from across America in
the American Stroke Association’s Power To End Stroke cause campaign.
The public has between now and April 6 to
go online and vote for their favorite among the top 10 finalists.

The American Stroke
Association, a division of the American Heart Association, joined with
the Gospel Music Channel to educate people about stroke through this
online singing competition. When people register to vote or compete in
the competition, they receive monthly e-newsletters from the American
Stroke Association’s Power To End Stroke campaign and other information
to help them reduce their risk of stroke.

Two choirs will win
(one small and one large) and will be notified on April
6.  The winning choirs will perform at the Power Awards Show on May 7 in New York
City. The association hosts the annual event to honor people who
increase stroke awareness among African Americans. In addition, one of
the two choirs will be chosen by EMI Gospel as a grand prize winner and
will receive a professional coaching session from a national EMI Gospel
artist.

Other prizes for the
winning choirs include:

• 50 free tickets per winning choir to
  the Power Awards Show
• One American Airlines ticket per winning
  choir to attend the 2010 Power Awards Show
• $5,000 worth of music equipment per winning
  choir from Roland, manufacturer and distributor of electronic musical
  instruments
• Recognition on the Gospel Music Channel

Power To End Stroke is
targeted to African Americans because of their disproportionate risks of
stroke.  Stroke is the third leading cause of death for all Americans,
and African Americans are at increased risk due to the higher prevalence
of risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and previous
heart attack and/or stroke.

“Stroke is a serious
issue in the African-American community,” said Dr. Rani Whitfield, a
family practitioner in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
and American Stroke Association spokesperson.  “It is a leading
cause of severe, long-term disability, and more than 100,000 African
Americans will suffer a new or reoccurring stroke this year. That’s why
it’s an important requirement of this competition to register people to
receive stroke information.  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.”

“The Gospel Music
Channel’s mission is to inspire, uplift and entertain. We believe the
Most Powerful Voices contest will inspire people to make positive
lifestyle changes to prevent strokes and entertain them through
uplifting music from outstanding choirs across America. We are thrilled
to be part of such a beneficial program to prevent strokes and showcase
great choirs and music,” commented Philip
Manwaring, vice president of Digital Media for the Gospel Music
Channel.

American Stroke Association