Diana Quesada, a Third Grade Student from PS 114 in the Bronx, took third place; Eric Chan, a 5th Grader from PS 169 in Brooklyn, came in second, and first place winner was Annie Hu, a 5th Grader from PS 169 in Brooklyn, taking home American Express Gift Certificates for $150, $100, and $50, respectively.  Nine other students received honorable mention. The artwork of all twelve finalists will be featured in the 2008 Asthma Awareness Calendar, published by the DOT.
Everyone in attendance – including children, parents and teachers -- was given a ticket to stay and watch the Mets game that night. Although everyone cheered for the Mets as they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, eight runs to four, the whole stadium also gave a standing ovation to former Yankees Manager, Joe Torre, who made his first appearance in New York since leaving the Bronx Bombers at the end of the previous season.

Asthma treatment and control is an ongoing project for the Health Education team at Health Plus.  Each year they visit schools across the five boroughs of New York City and Nassau County to educate children about the dangers of asthma, the importance of proper medication, and how to avoid the triggers that can cause an asthma attack.  Each year they pull an idea from their lesson book and use it as the theme for the contest.  The theme for this year’s contest was “Ashtma Action: Taking Steps for Clean Transportation”.  All contestants were rated using six criteria: Accuracy of message, effectiveness, creativity, originality, adherence to the guidelines, and positive concept.  The contest, which began in the art classrooms of 22 New York City Schools, selected winners from among 106 entries that were critiqued and rated at a judging ceremony, held last month at the Health Plus Executive Offices in downtown Brooklyn. 

“Health Plus is proud to put this event together and partner with these great organizations to promote better asthma management,” says Tom Early, Executive Director for Health Plus, one of New York City’s premier providers of free and affordable healthcare to children and adults.  “This effort will not only encourage young artists, but it will educate many people about a disease that affects this city drastically. Our company offers a number of great programs to help families fight asthma. But this annual poster awards ceremony is certainly the most fun.”