NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--iHeartMedia New York announced today the launch of a new multi-platform initiative to bring attention to the city’s Black maternal mortality crisis. In collaboration with MetroPlusHealth and Thinx, “MEternal – Because Pregnancy Is About Mom Too” will include educational messages on Power 105.1, 103.5 KTU, 106.7 LITE FM, and Z100, a dedicated bi-weekly podcast, as well as the online portal MEternal.info that provides resources related to maternal care for women of color. In addition, the iHeart New York team will be present at community events throughout the five boroughs promoting the “MEternal” campaign.
“According to the CDC, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women,” said Bernie Weiss, President of iHeartMedia New York. “iHeart’s New York radio stations together reach more than 1.6 million women of color, and we are proud to join forces with MetroPlusHealth and Thinx to do our part and shine a light on this critical issue by providing information that can help prevent tragedies.”
“MetroPlusHealth is proud to be a partner of iHeart’s ‘MEternal – Because Pregnancy Is About Mom Too’ initiative,” said Dr. Talya Schwartz, President and CEO of MetroPlusHealth. “Pregnancy is supposed to be a happy experience, and all too often, it is challenging for women of color, which can put their lives at risk. Pregnant women should feel supported during their pregnancy and have access to information and resources that will allow them to have a happy and healthy experience.”
"Bringing this program to life has been incredibly important to our team,” said Meghan Davis, CEO of Thinx, Inc. “As a brand dedicated to creating a healthier world with sustainable feminine hygiene products, we’re committed to tackling tough conversations to support women. As a founding member of ‘MEternal – Because Pregnancy Is About Mom Too’, we hope to increase public awareness of the many issues surrounding black maternal health and ultimately, provide resources to give people of color the maternal care they need and deserve. To further support the program, a pair of Thinx will be donated for every full-price pair purchased through the end of the year.”
The first two episodes of the “MEternal” podcast will be available to listeners Thursday, October 6 on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. Future episodes will include interviews with doctors, nurses, doulas, midwives, activists and survivors.
About iHeartMedia New York
iHeartMedia New York owns and operates WHTZ-FM, WKTU-FM, WAXQ-FM, WWPR-FM, WLTW-FM, WOR-AM, and WWRL-AM and is part of iHeartMedia. iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, reaching over 90% of Americans every month. iHeart’s broadcast radio assets alone have more consumer reach in the U.S. than any other media outlet; twice the reach of the next largest broadcast radio company; and over four times the ad-enabled reach of the largest digital-only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to Podtrac, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined and has the number one social footprint among audio players, with seven times more followers than the next audio media brand, and the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. The company continues to leverage its strong audience connection and unparalleled consumer reach to build new platforms, products, and services. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
About MetroPlusHealth
Since 1985, MetroPlusHealth has helped the people of New York City get quality health care at little to no cost. MetroPlusHealth is the plan of choice for over 675,000 New Yorkers, and its commercial and government-sponsored plans meet the needs of individuals, families, and workforces. The MetroPlusHealth staff speaks more than 40 languages and is as diverse as the great City it serves. MetroPlusHealth is part of NYC Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest public health system. For more information, visit metroplus.org. Join the conversation on social media at @metroplushealth.
About Thinx, Inc.
Thinx Inc. is a family of brands dedicated to creating products that support bodies from puberty to post-menopause. Together, Thinx, Thinx Teens, Thinx For All™, and Speax by Thinx is on a mission to be the most innovative leader in bringing sustainable and comfortable menstruation and incontinence products to market. We strive to deliver the safest products available and work to go beyond global regulatory requirements with our STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certification [20.HUS.04850 | HOHENSTEIN HTTI]. Our innovation has been recognized by top industry publications, including WWD, InStyle, PureWow, and Cosmopolitan, and ranked #1 in 2019 for Best Period Panties by both Women’s Health Magazine and Good Housekeeping.
