More than 400 leaders from across the nation gathered in Atlanta, GA on May 2 through May 4 for the Power Awards Weekend. This event celebrated the successes of Power to End Stroke, the American Stroke Association's cause campaign to reach African Americans. 

The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, honored the House of Restoration with the 2008 Impact Award for their efforts to increase stroke awareness in African-American communities.

Attendees participated in a gala, luncheon and a Power Sunday church service, as well as networked and shared ideas to take back to their communities to continue the fight against stroke.

The Impact Award is presented to a church that has excelled in giving back to the African-American community through their participation in the Power to End Stroke movement. House of Restoration Church is located in Petersburg and stays open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

They provide weekly AIDS awareness classes with referrals for free HIV testing, healthy meals for students and an exercise program for students and adults. This is a congregation of 300 members serving at-risk families in a 75 mile radius and servicing more than 400 children daily and 8100 families per year.

Eighty-seven percent of the people they serve are not members of the church. And, even though the program is not supported by federal funding, all services are provided free of charge.  More information can be found at www.houserest.org.

 The preceding was compiled from a American Heart Association press release.