Local Reverend To Help Lead The American Heart Association

August 1, 2008

Reverend Darrell Elligan was elected to the American Heart Association, Greater Southeast Affiliate board of directors at the organization’s Leadership Summit held in St. Petersburg, FL last month. He is slated to serve on the board during the association’s 2008-2009 fiscal year.

Elligan is an organizer, fundraiser, public speaker and the minister of True Light Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. He is also the Chairman of the Morehouse School of Medicine Clinical Research Center Community Advisory Board and President of Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta, an organization comprised of religious, political, corporate and community leaders with more than 10,000 members.

“I’m honored to be able to serve as a board member and I look forward to helping the American Heart Association lead the fight to save lives from cardiovascular disease and stroke,” Elligan stated.

Elligan has been significantly involved with the American Heart Association (AHA). He has served as the Chairman of the American Heart Association’s Cultural Initiative Committee and greatly assisted in planning the affiliate’s strategy for reaching underserved communities.

During the upcoming year, Elligan’s proven leadership will help the organization impact heart disease and stroke in the affiliate. The Greater Southeast Affiliate services Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Puerto Rico. The board will help the association focus on several key priorities including: educating women about heart disease, preventing and combating childhood obesity, promoting physical activity and empowering African Americans and Hispanics to reduce their increased incidence of stroke and risk.

About American Heart Association
Since 1924, the American Heart Association has helped protect people of all ages and ethnicities from the ravages of heart disease and stroke. These diseases are the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, respectively, and claim more than 910,000 lives a year.