Sakata Takes Home Top Team and Top Walker Honor
On the morning of September 13 at the Custom House Plaza located in Monterey, CA, more than 600 Northern Central Coast residents and visitors gathered for the American Heart Association’s 8th annual Heart & Stroke Walk to raise life-saving funds and awareness for heart disease and stroke. Dan Cianca, meteorologist for KION-TV news emceed the event which included 61 teams, including Team Sakata, and raised over $60,000! Funds raised from the Heart & Stroke walk event will benefit research, advocacy, outreach and education.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 4 causes of death for all Americans. Each day, nearly 2,400 Americans die from a cardiovascular disease. A leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke is lack of physical activity. Research has found that individuals may gain two hours of life expectancy for every one hour of regular, vigorous exercise they do.

Team Sakata walkers: Top Fundraiser, Jamie Kitz with Isabel Fuenzalida
The participation of Sakata Seed America in the Heart & Stroke Walk reflects its overall corporate giving mission and commitment to supporting organizations in local communities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America, dedicated to helping people live productive, healthy and enriched lives.
“Corporate giving is one important way that Sakata works to enrich the communities where we conduct business, Says Dave Armstrong, president-CEO of Sakata Seed America. “Through financial contributions, in-kind donations, employee engagement and organizational leadership, our goals are to educate individuals on the benefits of our products, provide products and services to those in need, and assist those who are working to better their communities.”
Sakata strives to have a positive, healthy and sustainable impact on the people, communities and food they touch. The company seeks to assist in building sustainable communities by focusing their human and financial resources on nutrition, health and the environment.

Team Sakata Walkers
In addition to its support of the Heart Walk, Sakata also sponsored the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Luncheon held in June 2014 and will be sponsoring and participating in the AHA’s National Eating Healthy Day on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014. On this day Americans are encouraged to commit to healthier eating. Sakata events centered on healthy eating and living are being planned.
Additional information:
- Number of Heart Walks across the country: Over 311 Heart & Stroke Walks
- Northern Central Coast Heart & Stroke Walker who raised the most $$: Jamie Kitz, Sakata Seed America @ $2225.00
- Team that raised the most $$: Team Sakata @ $4980.00
For more information on the Heart & Stroke Walk visit www.centralcoastheartwalk.kintera.org