National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Selects Ogilvy Washington for The Heart Truth®

Ogilvy Washington Wins Fourth Successive Contract as Agency Approaches 10th Year Supporting Women's Heart Health Campaign and its Red Dress Brand

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Washington, D.C., office of Ogilvy & Mather (Ogilvy Washington), an integrated global communications firm, announced today that it has been awarded a five year, multi-million dollar contract from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for The Heart Truth® campaign.  Ogilvy Washington has worked with the NHLBI on this important work—helping women recognize heart disease as their #1 killer—since 2001. With this award, the team will continue to help change the landscape for women and heart disease in the United States through an expanded focus on prompting behavior change and advancing the campaign's powerful brand—the Red Dress.

"Winning the contract for the fourth time is a testament to the partnership we've built with our NHLBI client," said Jennifer Wayman, executive vice president and director of Social Marketing at Ogilvy Washington.  "Together, we have begun to tackle this significant problem that affects millions of American women. We have made strides over the past decade to increase awareness of heart disease and to motivate women to take action to reduce their risk. We look forward to continued collaboration with the NHLBI to add to the success of the campaign over the next five years," she added.

For the past ten years, Ogilvy Washington has worked with the NHLBI to propel this brand-driven social marketing campaign through a range of programs such as the annual Red Dress Collection Fashion Show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, The Heart Truth Road Show, which provides free risk factor screening and education, partnerships with the media, national non-profits and corporations, and extensive community-level outreach. The Heart Truth has contributed to a doubling of women's awareness of heart disease as their leading health risk and in prompting behavior change. Two thirds of women report that the Red Dress makes them want to learn more about heart disease, and women who know about the Red Dress or the campaign are substantially more likely than others to take at least one risk-reducing action as a result.

"We are immensely proud of the work we have done for the NHLBI and The Heart Truth over the past decade," said Robert Mathias, president of Ogilvy Washington.  "With the renewal of our contract, we can continue to work on this agenda-setting program that has sparked the national women's heart health movement."

Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (Ogilvy PR) is a global, multi-disciplinary communications leader operating in more than 80 markets. Named Large Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report and PRNews, Ogilvy PR blends proven PR methodologies with cutting edge digital innovations to craft strategic programs that give clients winning and measurable results. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in business, Ogilvy PR provides strategic public relations counsel to a variety of clients across its social marketing, public affairs, healthcare, consumer marketing, 360-degree digital influence, corporate, and technology practices. Through its subsidiary, Feinstein Kean Healthcare, the agency also offers additional experience in the cancer field, as well as specialized expertise in molecular medicine, advanced biomedical research, leading life science and healthcare technologies and treatments.  Ogilvy PR is a unit of Ogilvy & Mather, a WPP company (NASDAQ: WPPGY), one of the world's largest communications services groups.  For more information, visit our Web site at www.ogilvypr.com.

® The Heart Truth is a registered trademark of HHS.

SOURCE Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide