The Postal Service™ is raising awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy heart by issuing the 2012 Social Awareness Heart Health Commemorative Forever® stamp on February 9, 2012, in Washington, DC.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin will join Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe in dedicating the stamp at the Washington Hospital Center. As part of the ceremony, the Surgeon General highlighted the Million Hearts public outreach initiative (see http://millionhearts.hhs.gov
), which has a goal of reducing heart attacks and strokes by 1 million over the next 5 years.
Postmasters are encouraged to coordinate with elected officials to conduct “special dedication” ceremonies that can take place anytime after that. (The term “second day of issue dedication ceremony” is no longer used, as it erroneously implies that dedication ceremonies are limited to the day following the first day of issuance.)
Included in this kit are the following:
n Biggest Loser information and sweepstakes.
n Special stamp dedication opportunities
n Contact for ordering poster-sized image of the stamp.
n Stamp art information and back sheet text.
n Corporate Communications contacts.
n Government relations contacts.
n Sample Media Advisory (distribute 1 week prior to event).
n Sample News Release (distribute day of the event).
n Sample Stamp Dedication Speech.
‘The Biggest Loser’ Television Show
Be sure to tune into NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” television show when it highlights the stamp and its role in promoting a healthy heart during its Tuesday, February 14, 8 p.m. ET airing.
The Biggest Loser Sweepstakes
As part of the February 14 airing of The Biggest Loser, the stamp will be the centerpiece of the national “Watch It. Write It. Win It.” sweepstakes. For an 11-week period, viewers are invited to watch, write, and win by sending letters of encouragement to their favorite Biggest Loser contestant(s). Viewers may submit an unlimited number of letters addressed to one contestant at a time. Letters also can be addressed to previously eliminated contestants from this season. Letters will be drawn at random to win one of three prizes:
n Grand Prize: One week all-expense-paid trip for two to the Biggest Loser Resort.
n Second Prize: Four weeks of The Biggest Loser prepared meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) — delivered by the U.S. Postal Service®.
n Third Prize: Tickets for two with airfare to The Biggest Loser grand finale that airs in May 2013.
Sweepstakes information will be available on February 14 at Post Offices nationwide and at this link the day after the show’s airing: www.usps.com/biggestloser. Postal Service™ employees and their immediate families are not eligible to participate in the sweepstakes.
Special Stamp Dedication Opportunities
Corporate Communications is working with The Biggest Loser to identify select current and previous contestants on The Biggest Loser who have an interest in participating in hometown special Heart Health stamp dedication ceremonies. Postmasters are asked to refrain from contacting The Biggest Loser’s past contestants. Postmasters will be contacted prior to planning events to ensure adequate resources are available before moving forward.
Postmasters are encouraged to contact Health and Human Services (HHS) regional directors for assistance in obtaining a speaker for their event. For more information, see http://www.hhs.gov/about/regions/index.html. Postmasters can also contact their local hospital’s public relations office for assistance in obtaining a speaker with an expertise in cardiology.
Ordering Stamp Images for the Event and Media Use
Postmasters can order poster-sized enlargements of the stamp image by contacting Dave Bair of Dodgechrome at dbair@dodgechrome.com or by calling 240-247-1815. For easy online ordering, visit http://www.dodgechrome.com/stores/uspsfo/catalog/index.php
Postmasters should contact Mark Saunders, mark.r.saunders@usps.gov, 202-268-6524, to obtain high-resolution images of the stamp for media use only.
Heart Health Stamp Art
The stamp art, which features a bright yellow sun disc, a leafy green tree icon, and a blue swirl of a sky, evokes the feelings of wellness and vitality that come from physical exercise, a key element in controlling and preventing coronary heart disease, or coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death among women and men in the U.S. each year. The striding figure at the center of the stamp has a full red heart. At the figure’s feet, a large red apple represents a well-balanced diet. Art director Derry Noyes worked with the artist, Nicholas Wilton, to create this fresh and positive approach to a difficult subject.
The back of the stamp sheet, referred to as the verso text, provides the following healthy heart tips:
Coronary heart disease, or CHD, is the leading cause of death among women and men in the U.S., but it doesn’t have to be. Many cases of heart disease can be prevented. By making just a few simple lifestyle changes, you can lower your risk of developing CHD and help protect your heart for a lifetime.
n Eat a heart-healthy diet. Consuming lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and avoiding foods that are high in sodium, saturated fats, and sugar promotes heart health. Such a diet can help control blood cholesterol levels and prevent high blood pressure, being overweight, and diabetes—all risk factors for heart disease.
n Exercise and control your weight. Regular physical activity is important for maintaining a healthy heart, but you don’t have to be an athlete to reap the rewards. Getting a moderate amount of exercise most days of the week will lower your risk for heart disease and help maintain a healthy weight. Ask your doctor how much and what kind of exercise is right for you.
n Don’t smoke. Smoking causes your arteries to narrow and your blood pressure to rise, which can lead to a heart attack. No matter how long a person has smoked, quitting will dramatically lower the risk of developing heart disease. If you don’t smoke, protect your heart by avoiding secondhand smoke.
n Manage stress. Did you know that prolonged emotional stress can harm your heart? Regular exercise and supportive relationships with family and friends can help relieve stress and improve your physical and emotional well-being. Don’t hesitate to seek professional help if anxiety or depression interferes with your ability to function.
n Sleep well. Sleep is essential to your heart. Adults who get less than 7–8 hours of sleep each night have a higher risk of developing heart disease.
n Get regular health screenings. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes can creep up on you without symptoms. Simple tests are available to detect these conditions, and medicines can be prescribed to control them if diet and exercise prove insufficient.
We encourage you to take advantage of these materials when promoting the Heart Health Forever stamp. Following are Corporate Communications Area Managers and Government Relations Representatives contact listings for assistance in conducting your event.
Corporate Communications Area Managers
Capital Metro
George Maffett
george.t.maffett@usps.gov
301-548-1465
Eastern
Paul Smith
paul.f.smith@usps.gov
215-863-5055
Great Lakes
Victor Dubina
victor.dubina@usps.gov
630-539-6565
Northeast
Maureen Marion
maureen.p.marion@usps.gov
860-285-7029
Pacific
Don Smeraldi
don.a.smeraldi@usps.gov
858-674-3149
Southwest
Earl C. Artis, Jr.
earl.c.artis@usps.gov
214-819-8704
Western
Teresa Rudkin
teresa.rudkin@usps.gov
303-313-5130
Government Relations Congressional State/Manager/Representative Listing
To dial extension, use prefix (202) 268-XXXX
Sample Media Advisory
Date
Contact: [NAME]
(O) xxx-xxx-xxxx
(C) xxx-xxx-xxxx
xxxxx@usps.gov
usps.com/news
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[NAME] Post Office Dedicates Heart Health Social Awareness Forever Stamp
or
[TOWN] Native, Form Biggest Loser Contestant Dedicates
Heart Health Social Awareness Forever Stamp
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WHAT: Dedication ceremony for 2012 Heart Health Social Awareness Forever Stamp.
WHO: [NAME], former Biggest Loser contestant who lost [XX] lbs. (Only if attending)
[POSTMASTER NAME]
Other dedicating officials
WHEN: [DATE, TIME]
WHERE: [NAME OF POST OFFICE
STREET
CITY, STATE ZIP CODE]
BACKGROUND: In a move to raise awareness of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the [NAME] Post Office™ is holding a special dedication ceremony to celebrate the issuance of the 2012 Social Awareness Heart Health commemorative Forever® stamp.
(Optional only if attending) City native [NAME], will participate in the dedication ceremony and share [HIS/HER] story on losing [XX] lbs., in addition to offering heart healthy tips for losing weight and keeping it off.
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The Postal Service™ receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
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Note: or broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at http://about.usps.com/news/welcome.htm.
For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional on this issue, go to http://about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf.
A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service® is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, USPS.com®, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $67 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 29th in the 2010 Fortune 500. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency six consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.
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Sample News Release
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [NAME]
Feb. [XX], 2012 [PHONE]
[EMAIL]
 
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[NAME] Post Office Dedicates 2012 Social Awareness Stamp
or
Former Biggest Loser Contestant Dedicates Social Awareness Stamp
Heart Health Forever Stamp Lands Featured Role on NBC’s ‘The Biggest Loser’
To obtain a high-resolution image of the stamp for media use only, e-mail mark.r.saunders@usps.gov.
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[CITY, STATE] — In a move to raise awareness of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the [NAME] Post Office™ held a special dedication ceremony to celebrate the issuance of the 2012 Social Awareness Heart Health commemorative Forever® stamp.
The stamp plays a key motivational role in a competition featured on NBC Television’s “The Biggest Loser,” which airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. The Feb. 14 episode includes a sweepstakes announcement to encourage letter writing.
The Heart Health commemorative Forever stamp was dedicated today at the [NAME] Post Office by [TITLE, NAME]. (Optional: [NAME], a former contestant from The Biggest Loser, joined Postmaster [NAME] in dedicating the stamp.)
All 50 million of the stamps, available in a sheet of 20, are available nationwide at www.usps.com/shop, by calling 800-782-6724, and at most Post Offices. The back of the stamp sheet offers heart healthy tips.
“We are raising awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy heart, because coronary heart disease is the number one cause of death among men and women in the United States,” said [NAME]. “And yet, it does not have to be. Many cases of heart disease can be prevented by making a few lifestyle changes. By following the tips on the back of the stamp sheet, you can prolong your life.”
(Optional: Quote from The Biggest Loser Contestant here on how the messaging on the back to the stamp sheet is vital to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.)
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Joining [NAME] in dedicating the stamps were [TITLE, NAME; TITLE, NAME], etc.
[Quote from other dedicating official here].
[NAME], of The Biggest Loser, participated in the Washington, DC, first day of issue dedication ceremony via recorded message.
Biggest Loser Sweepstakes
As part of The Biggest Loser Feb. 14 airing, the stamp [will/be/is] the centerpiece of the national “Watch It. Write It. Win It.” sweepstakes. For an 11-week period, viewers are invited to watch, write and win by sending letters of encouragement to their favorite Biggest Loser contestant(s). Viewers may submit an unlimited number of letters addressed to one contestant at a time. Letters also can be addressed to previously eliminated contestants from this season. Letters will be drawn at random to win one of three prizes:
n Grand Prize: One week, all expense paid trip for two to the Biggest Loser Resort.
n Second Prize: Four weeks of Biggest Loser prepared meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) — delivered by the U.S. Postal Service®.
n Third Prize: Tickets for two with airfare to the Biggest Loser Grand Finale that airs in May 2013.
Sweepstakes information [will be available on Feb. 14/is available] at Post Offices nationwide and at www.usps.com/biggestloser beginning [thE day after the show’s airing].
Text on the Back of the Heart Health Forever Stamp Sheet
Coronary heart disease, or CHD, is the leading cause of death among women and men in the U.S., but it doesn't have to be. Many cases of heart disease can be prevented. By making just a few simple lifestyle changes, you can lower your risk of developing CHD and help protect your heart for a lifetime.
n Eat a heart-healthy diet. Consuming lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and avoiding foods that are high in sodium, saturated fats, and sugar promotes heart health. Such a diet can help control blood cholesterol levels and prevent high blood pressure, being overweight, and diabetes—all risk factors for heart disease.
n Exercise and control your weight. Regular physical activity is important for maintaining a healthy heart, but you don’t have to be an athlete to reap the rewards. Getting a moderate amount of exercise most days of the week will lower your risk for heart disease and help maintain a healthy weight. Ask your doctor how much and what kind of exercise is right for you.
n Don’t smoke. Smoking causes your arteries to narrow and your blood pressure to rise, which can lead to a heart attack. No matter how long a person has smoked, quitting will dramatically lower the risk of developing heart disease. If you don’t smoke, protect your heart by avoiding secondhand smoke.
n Manage stress. Did you know that prolonged emotional stress can harm your heart? Regular exercise and supportive relationships with family and friends can help relieve stress and improve your physical and emotional well-being. Don't hesitate to seek professional help if anxiety or depression interfere with your ability to function.
n Sleep well. Sleep is essential to your heart. Adults who get less than 7–8 hours of sleep each night have a higher risk of developing heart disease.
n Get regular health screenings. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes can creep up on you without symptoms. Simple tests are available to detect these conditions, and medicines can be prescribed to control them if diet and exercise prove insufficient.
Other 2012 Stamps
Customers may view the Heart Health commemorative Forever stamp as well as many of this year’s other stamps on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, through Twitter@USPSstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at http://beyondtheperf.com/2012-preview.
Beyond the Perf is the Postal Service’s online site for background on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.
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How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at a local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at www.usps.com/shop or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others and place them in larger envelopes addressed to:
Heart Health Stamp
Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282
After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes by mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by April 9, 2012.
How to Order First-Day Covers
The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic Catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:
Information Fulfillment
Dept. 6270
U.S. Postal Service
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
Philatelic Products: visit www.usps.com/hearthealthy
There are four philatelic products available for this stamp issue.
n 468761, First-Day Cover, $0.89.
n 468765, Digital Color Postmark (DCP), $1.60.
n 468791, Ceremony Program, $6.95.
n 468799, Cancellation Keepsake (DCP w/Pane), $10.95.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
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Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at http://about.usps.com/news/welcome.htm.
For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional on this issue, go to http://about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf.
A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service® is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 151 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, USPS.com®, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 35th in the 2011 Fortune 500. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency for six years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.
Follow USPS on Twitter @USPS_PR and at Facebook.com/usps.
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Sample Stamp Dedication Speech
[USPS OFFICIAL’S NAME AND TITLE]
United States Postal Service
“Heart Health”
Special Dedication Ceremony
[DATE]
[CITY, STATE]
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Thank you all for joining us at today’s event. (Optional: Add a brief comment about how this location relates to heart health.)
I also want to thank all of our special guests for joining us in beautiful [CITY/TOWN/LOCATION/TYPE OF SETTING].
In particular, I’m glad that our good friend [NAME OF ELECTED OFFICIAL] is here, along with [ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED].
The U.S. Postal Service has a long tradition of issuing special stamps to help raise public awareness about important health and social issues.
These special stamps have run the gamut … from AIDS Awareness … to Organ and Tissue Donation … to Prostate Cancer Awareness … to Hospice Care … to Diabetes… to Alzheimer’s.
Today, I am proud to join all of you as we continue this tradition by dedicating the Heart Health commemorative Forever stamp.
We are raising awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy heart because coronary heart disease is the number 1 cause of death among men and women in the United States.
And yet it does not have to be. Many cases of heart disease can be prevented by making a few lifestyle changes.
With this stamp, we remember loved ones who have been lost to heart disease, and we issue a call to action for all of us, to focus on the importance of maintaining a healthy heart.
This special new stamp conveys the feeling of vitality that comes from physical exercise — a key element in controlling and preventing coronary heart disease. The design also includes a bright yellow sun disk, a leafy green tree icon, and the blue swirl of a sky.
At the center of the stamp, a striding figure has a full red heart. At the figure’s feet, a large red apple represents a well-balanced diet — another essential factor in maintaining a healthy heart.
(Optional: Speaker can add this section based on time allotted for speech; or an emcee or other speaker can use this information.)
This stamp not only helps raise awareness about heart health, it offers practical, daily tips that anyone can follow to lower the risk of heart disease.
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There are six tips printed right on the back of the stamp sheet to help remind us all that simple changes can make a big difference. These are common-sense ideas that most of us have heard before, yet they can help protect your heart for a lifetime.
First, eat healthy foods. Adding fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your diet can help control blood cholesterol, prevent high blood pressure, and protect against other heart disease risks.
Second: Exercise and control your weight. Regular physical activity is important, but you don't have to be an athlete to see results. Even exercising moderately on most days of the week will help.
Third: Don’t smoke. Smoking causes a person’s arteries to narrow and blood pressure to rise. No matter how long a person has smoked, quitting will dramatically lower the risk of developing heart disease.
Next on the list is one we all may have trouble with in these busy days: manage stress. It’s been proven that prolonged stress can harm your heart. In addition to regular exercise and some of the other tips we’ve mentioned, maintaining supportive relationships with family and friends also can be a big boost to our overall health. And, don’t hesitate to seek professional help when needed.
Our fifth tip is to sleep well. It’s essential to your heart to rest and recover every day. Here’s another fact that’s been proven in studies — adults who get less than 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night have a higher risk of developing heart disease.
And finally, get regular health screenings. Many risk factors of heart disease can creep up on you without symptoms. Simple tests are available today, and preventive measures can be taken with early diagnosis.
(End optional section 1.)
(Pause)
[Optional section 2 — can be added as needed considering time constraints, or used for another speaker.]
How many here are fans of the Biggest Loser TV show on NBC?
That’s great, because we are working together to promote a healthy lifestyle and letter writing.
As part of The Biggest Loser February 14 show, the stamp [WILL BE/WAS] the centerpiece of the national “Watch It. Write It. Win It” sweepstakes. For an 11-week period, viewers are invited to “watch, write and win” by sending letters of encouragement to their favorite Biggest Loser contestants. Viewers can send as many letters as they wish, addressed to one contestant at a time, or to previously eliminated contestants from this season.
Letters will be drawn at random to win one of three great prizes, ranging from a 1-week, all-expense-paid trip to the Biggest Loser Resort, to a supply of Biggest Loser prepared meals — delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, to tickets and airfare to see the Biggest Loser Grand Finale show in May 2013.
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You can find out all the details of the sweepstakes (Add if event is before Feb. 14: starting February 14 after the Biggest Loser show that day) at Post Offices nationwide and online at “usps-dot-com-slash-biggest loser”.
(End optional section 2.)
(Pause)
We are printing 50 million of these stamp...and we hope every single one will be collected or used to spread the word about the importance of heart health. Indeed, we want our customers to save lives by putting these stamps on their cards and letters! It’s our gift to America.
Let’s fight heart disease with all the strength we can muster.
Let’s expose this silent killer to the healing light of understanding and awareness.
And let’s educate the nation about the life-saving benefits of eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising and controlling weight, not smoking, managing stress, sleeping well, and getting regular health screenings.
(Pause)
It’s clear from this stamp, and the other social awareness stamps I’ve mentioned, that the Postal Service provides more than low-cost, high quality, mail service to everyone, everywhere, every day.
We deliver more than the mail.
Our real power lies in our ability to reach so many people — and to reach out to them.
That’s why we’re extremely proud of the Heart Health commemorative Forever stamp — because we know it can make a positive difference in the lives of so many people — men and women, young and old.
Stamps, as well as the subjects and issues they highlight, are one of the many ways we help bind our nation together and enrich the communities that we serve.
And remember — if you purchase the Heart Health commemorative Forever stamp today, or at some time in the future, it will be good as First-Class Mail postage forever, no matter what the rate is when you put it on the envelope.
So now, on behalf of the U.S. Postal Service, it gives me great pleasure to transform an ordinary fixture of American life — a U.S. postage stamp — into a symbol of health, wellness, and vitality.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you our Heart Health commemorative Forever stamp.
(Unveil stamp. Pose for photos)
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— Public Relations, Corporate Communications, 2-9-12
