Aviir Sponsors GUARDaHEART Foundation's 'Farm To Table' Event In Collaboration With Red Eye Inc In South Central Los Angeles

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviir Inc., a biotechnology company, dedicated to the prevention of cardiovascular disease through innovative laboratory tests, sponsored a GUARDaHEART Foundation community service event in South Central on Saturday, January 5. GUARDaHEART Foundation, a non-profit committed to heart disease prevention, joined forces with Red Eye Inc, a philanthropic organization, by providing much-needed fresh produce to families in need.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130110/LA40995)

Tanaka Farms, in Irvine, CA, opened up their farm up to GUARDaHEART volunteers who then harvested by hand crates of fresh fruits and vegetables which volunteers later that day delivered to the residents of South Central Los Angeles. Red Eye Inc and GUARDaHEART Foundation volunteers were greeted by a multitude of grateful smiling faces on Saturday as they served up fresh produce and homemade soup, made from the freshly harvested crops to the disadvantaged families. The South Central Los Angeles residents were delighted to receive these locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, often difficult to obtain, especially in lower income areas. One gentleman's eyes filled with tears as he accepted a large basket of carrots, commenting that he will use the vegetables to make soup, which will get him through the chilly winter.

Dr. Douglas Harrington, CEO of Aviir Diagnostics commented: "We are privileged to have this opportunity to bring food to those in need, especially since their access to fresh produce is so limited." Dr. Harrington went on to explain how this event was more than an act of charity: "We want to go one step further than donating food. We also want to empower the local residents on how to grow their own fruits and vegetables, even within a very small area. We also want to help them understand the important relationship of the foods we eat and heart disease, the nation's number one killer. It's been proven that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can significantly lower an individuals' risk of heart disease. We hope this day brought more than nutritious food but offered these folks a new way to own their own heart health."