Photo Above: Metairie Bank presenting sponsorship check to AAMWWI-NOLA Leadership. From Left to Right: Ron Samford (President/CEO of Metairie Bank), Priscilla May (Metairie Bank Airline Branch Manager), Bishop Tom Watson (Chair of AAMWW-NOLA), Roy Forest (Metairie Bank Jefferson Branch Sales Manager), Dr. Takeisha Davis (CEO of New Orleans East Hospital), Marina Manzanares (Metairie Bank Community Development Officer), Elaine White (Metairie Bank Mortgage Lender), and Robbin Hardee (Metairie Bank VP of Retail Banking).
We are proud to announce that Metairie Bank is a presenting sponsor of the 2nd Annual African American Male Wellness Walk Initiative in New Orleans in conjunction with its original partner/sponsor the New Orleans East Hospital. The initiative combines a 5k Walk-Run with FREE health screenings for all men who come out.
Where: Joe Brown Memorial Park
When: Saturday, September 30th
time: health screenings start at 7:00 am.
Statistically speaking, African American males have a life expectancy of 67 years; that is 10 years shorter than their counterparts in the majority population. Experts say a big factor is the tendency to avoid regular medical checkups and that is why a key component on Saturday, September 30th will be a variety of free health screenings beginning at 7:00 am for a variety of the most common ailments that go undiagnosed or diagnosed too late in the black male population. The local steering committee has been working hard to make this year’s event bigger and more impactful than the inaugural 2016 event in New Orleans.
The AAMWWI-NOLA 2017 Honorary Chairman is 2nd district Congressman @Rep.CedricRichmond. The leadership team includes three prominent local physician advocates who regularly plead for greater men’s health awareness from their own media platforms, namely: Dr. Eric Griggs, Dr. Corey Hebert, and Dr. Kevin Stephens. Entertainment for 2017 includes spirited warm-ups on stage plus appearances by R&B vocalist Gina Brown, local gospel choir “New Creation” featuring pastor Kenneth Davis, the Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale dancers, plus local school bands. Also returning this year is D-J “Captain Charles” to keep the party going after the 5k Walk-Run has ended. A variety of vendors and exhibitors are also partnering with the local organizers (prospective partners or vendors should e-mail aamwwinola@gmail.com for more information on such opportunities).
Originating in Columbus, Ohio, the AAMWW Initiative is taking place in twelve major cities across the U.S. this year including Atlanta, New York, and Washington DC. The inaugural New Orleans African American Male Wellness Walk in 2016 brought an estimated 2,000 participants, volunteers, and health organizations together to promote African American male wellness. Advance online registration is free at: https://www.aawalk.org/neworleans.
