Barbra Addresses Women's Conference

December 1, 2011
Beamed live around the country this morning, Barbra Streisand gave an impassioned speech at the TedxWomen's symposium from Beverly Hills. She was there to introduce Dr. C. Noel Merz, director of the Women's Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai. Barbra spoke for a full 10 minutes during which she discussed the important differences between men and women in detecting and preventing heart disease. She also called for a gender balanced approach to research.

"Heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined ... Even though heart disease has been called a man's disease, since 1984, more women have died annually from heart disease than men ... For 50 years, women have been treated based on diagnostics created for men. So what is wrong with this picture? What's wrong with this picture is the outrageous gender inequality that women face in the treatment of heart disease."

Watch a replay of Barbra's speech at Livestream.com.

Here's how Barbra herself was introduced:

"Our next speaker's achievements as a director, actor, singer, composer and producer are simply legendary. She's the recipient of two Oscars, five Emmys, ten Grammys, twelve Golden Globes, and she's also the first female film director to receive the Kennedy Center Honors.

"Her activism and philanthropic pursuits are just as impressive. Her foundation has provided millions of dollars in funding to over 700 nonprofit organizations. These organizations include the Cedars-Sinai women's cardiovascular research and education program, led by the amazing Dr. Noel Bairey Merz, whose groundbreaking work is changing the way we treat the leading cause of death among women in United States.

"We are so proud to welcome to the TEDxWomen's stage, ladies and gentlemen Barbra Streisand."

Cedars Honors Barbra

November 9, 2011
Barbra Streisand was presented the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors' Humanitarian Award at a fundraising dinner on last night. Proceeds from the event, which took place at the Beverly Hilton in L.A. will go to the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute.

In recent years, Barbra has been actively involved with fundraising efforts for Cedars and their heart institute. Using her good name and well known celebrity, Barbra has spearheaded campaign efforts designed to raise money for research and to promote women's health awareness.

Last year, Barbra spoke about her involvement: "I am doing this because heart disease is the number one killer of women in our country, more than all other cancers combined. And today, more women die of heart disease than men. Because of these staggering statistics, I am committed to taking on this epidemic, and I need all of your help."

Here is a transcript of Barbra's remarks from last night:

"What could be more gratifying than to know that we are helping women live longer and healthier lives? For me, I was shocked when I first learned that heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined. For every woman that dies from breast cancer, ten, perhaps eleven, die from heart disease. And I find that most people don't know that, and it's time they did. Every woman lost is someone's mother, sister, wife, daughter, aunt, friend, and that's why the work that's being done at Cedars-Sinai Women's Heart Center is priceless.

"I've always been fascinated by gender inequality – whether it's making a movie called Yentl or becoming involved in many women's issues. Gender does matter when it comes to medical science, especially in clinical research and treatment protocols. How can you treat a women for a life threatening ailment based on diagnostics and technologies created for men, when every year nearly, as Noel [Dr. Merz] said, 500 thousand women just in the United States alone are dying from heart disease? It is the number one killer of women worldwide. And these questions astounded me, and that's why I became involved in the work of the Women's Heart Center. From the bottom of mine, thank you, and good night."

New Smart Phone App Spotlights the Cause

May 30, 2011
As part of their continuing (and creative) efforts to support research and education on the issue of women's cardiovascular health, Barbra Streisand and the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute have released a brand new smart phone app.

It's called "HER Heart Health."

The app is by no means sophisticated, but its message is crucial and deserves notice. And of course, if you download the app, you'll receive Barbra's public service video.

The free app offers nutritional and exercise information, facts about women's heart disease and has a direct link to Barbra's fundraising page where people can donate.

The app is compatible with iPhone, Android and Blackberry devices. You can download the iPhone version of the app here.

 

Auction Nets Big Donation

May 3, 2011
Congratulations to Barbra and her Charity buzz auction. The auction ended earlier today with a winning bid of $21,500. Two Streisand fans split the winning bid and will enjoy a personal meet-and-greet with Barbra on the set of "My Mother's Curse."

The auction was the latest in Barbra's series of extraordinary fundraising efforts to raise money for the Cedars-Sinai Women's Heart Center. 

Visit barbrastreisand.com for more details on her Women's Cardio Health initiative. Although the auction is over, you can still contribute to help the cause.

Meet Barbra: It's All for Charity

April 14, 2011
Would you like to meet Barbra Streisand in person and help raise money for the Women's Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai? Then all you have to do is be the winning bidder at the special Charitybuzz auction. The lucky winner will visit Barbra on the Los Angeles set of her upcoming movie, "My Mother's Curse" sometime this summer. The special auction was announced on Barbra's web site this morning.

This type of auction is a rarity for Barbra. The last time Barbra did anything remotely similar was back in 1973 when she took live song requests over the phone for people who contributed to the Daniel Ellsberg ACLU fundraiser.

To find out how to participate in this current auction, visit barbrastreisand.com.

You have until May 3 to place that winning bid.

Cardio PSA to be Shown at "Little Fockers"

November 9, 2010
This evening, "The Insider" aired a brief clip from a new public service announcement folks will see when they attend screenings of "Little Fockers" next month. The PSA is for the Cedars-Sinai Women's Heart Center. The spot appears to be similar to the one Barbra released last week, except for one difference. In the theatrical version, Barbra introduces herself as Roz Focker and appears in full hair and makeup.

You can watch Barbra's on-line appeal for women's cardio-vascular research at barbrastreisand.com.

Donate, Win a Chance to See Barbra

November 4, 2010
Fans have a chance to see Barbra, live, during her Oprah show taping on Nov. 10. It's all part of Barbra's fundraising efforts for Cedars-Sinai Women's Heart Center. Just visit crowdrise.com and make a $24 donation. You'll be automatically entered in a contest to win a pair of tickets to the broadcast. Visit barbrastreisand.com for more details.

Barbra Urges Fans to Get Involved

October 26, 2010
Barbra Streisand is asking her fans - and others around the country - to support her in efforts to raise money for research, treatment and education on women's heart disease. Barbra is the Project Coordinator for a major fundraiser that will benefit the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. In a statement on her web site yesterday, Barbra urges her fans to get involved:

"Please help me as I launch my first ever online campaign to raise money for research, treatment and education on women’s heart disease.

I will be encouraging individuals around the country to join me in supporting the work of the Women’s Heart Center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute because of the leadership role they are taking to advance heart care, research and education focused on women.

I am doing this because heart disease is the number one killer of women in our country, more than all other cancers combined. And today, more women die of heart disease than men. Because of these staggering statistics, I am committed to taking on this epidemic, and I need all of your help.

If you have a woman in your life that you care about – a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend – please join me in helping this important campaign get off to a great start.

With great appreciation, Barbra."

If you'd like to help with Barbra's efforts to support the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, visit crowdrise.com/barbrastreisand. There you'll find a mission statement, written by Barbra, that outlines details of the Heart Institute's fundraising campaign. You can show your support by making a monetary contribution, or you can join the team if you are interested in becoming a volunteer.

"The statistics are overwhelming ..."

August 6, 2010
Barbra Streisand attended a special benefit in Santa Monica last night, continuing her ongoing campaign for research into women's cardiovascular health. The local event raised $125,000 for the Women's Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai.

Interviewed at the event, Barbra stressed the importance research plays in finding a cure.

"The statistics are overwhelming, because more women die of heart disease than men now. More women die of heart disease than all cancers combined. Everyone has a woman in their lives, meaning a mother, a sister, a daughter. If everyone would just send 5 dollars to the Women's heart center at Cedars, we could raise so much money."