ArcelorMittal enhances commitment to healthier communities

EAST CHICAGO | ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel and mining company, is providing significant support for the American Heart Association's new My Heart. My Life. healthy behavior platform.

ArcelorMittal, which has a long history of supporting the American Heart Association in Northwest Indiana, broadened the partnership this year to include additional communities, marking a significant expansion in reach throughout communities where the company operates. The 2012 partnership includes the communities of Chicago and Riverdale, Ill.; Burns Harbor, East Chicago and New Carlisle, Ind.; Cleveland and Richfield, Ohio; and Steelton, Penn.

ArcelorMittal's financial and volunteer support of the American Heart Association will focus on presenting wellness and fitness programs to ArcelorMittal employees and family members and local residents of the eight communities near ArcelorMittal facilities.

ArcelorMittal's involvement in the American Heart Association's My Heart. My Life initiative will engage both employees and the general community and include a number of activities: establishing Teaching Gardens in partnership with local schools to help change the way young people eat and think about food; designating and promoting Walking Paths within ArcelorMittal communities to encourage employees and residents to embrace a more active lifestyle; hosting Lunch and Learn events at ArcelorMittal facilities to raise awareness of the risk factors, signs and symptoms of a heart attack or stroke; and participating in National Walking Day on April 4, 2012.

Specifically in the Northwest Indiana and Chicago/Riverdale communities, ArcelorMittal will support the implementation of four Teaching Gardens and four Walking Paths. ArcelorMittal will also sponsor 2012 National Walking Day activities in those communities and serve as a presenting supporter of this fall's Northwest Indiana Heart Walks in Lake and Porter Counties. Specific school locations for Teaching Gardens & Walking Paths for this My Heart. My Life. programming will be announced on National Walking Day.

"In partnership with the American Heart Association, ArcelorMittal is committed to continuing the fight against heart disease and improving the cardiovascular health and wellness of our employees and neighbors. Our partnership with the American Heart Association underscores our commitment to the health and safety of our workforce and the communities in which we operate," said Andrew S. Harshaw, Executive Vice President, Operations, ArcelorMittal USA. "We are pleased to demonstrate our leadership in the fight against heart disease by supporting access to the tools, treatment and knowledge necessary to live stronger, healthier, more sustainable lives."

"ArcelorMittal is proud to bring heart-healthy, life-saving information from the American Heart Association to the employees of our local facilities and the residents of our local communities," said Stephen Thompson, Manager, Health & Safety Compliance, ArcelorMittal USA. "The programming provided by AHA's new My Heart. My Life. platform aligns perfectly with our commitment to the health and wellness of our employees, the families of our employees, and our community residents."

Unveiled in 2011, My Heart. My Life. is the American Heart Association's comprehensive new health, wellness and fitness platform to empower Americans to get healthier. It serves as a critical component to the American Heart Association's 2020 Impact Goal of improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent and reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 percent by the year 2020.

Aimed at elementary school students, the American Heart Association Teaching Garden program provides hands-on learning experiences in the effort to change the way Americans eat and think about food. Teaching Gardens serve as real-life laboratories where students learn how to plant seeds, nurture growing plants, harvest produce and, ultimately, understand the value of good eating habits.

Walking Paths are free, safe, centrally-located and regularly-maintained areas for people to easily access in an effort to encourage walking, one of the best and easiest exercises to get healthier and reduce risks for heart disease and stroke.

Lunch and Learns provide health screenings, wellness tips and informational resources within a company setting during the lunch hour. These sessions educate employees on cardiovascular risks and encourage them to see their healthcare providers regularly and monitor their risks.

National Walking Day calls on all Americans and their employers to incorporate at least 30 minutes of brisk walking into their schedules on that day and every day. National Walking Day takes place on the first Wednesday of April each year and lands on April 4th in 2012.

The Heart Walk is the American Heart Association's premier event for raising funds to save lives from heart disease and stroke, this country's No. 1 and No. 4 causes of death. Heart Walks promote physical activity and heart-healthy living amidst a fun, rewarding environment for the entire family.