What do the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, the Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel, the Forever Marilyn sculpture in Palm Springs and Keck Medical Center of USC have in common?

They are among Southern California landmarks and buildings being lit up red in honor of National Wear Red Day, Feb. 7, a yearly event sponsored by the American Heart Association to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease among women.

“Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death among women, as well as men, and it’s crucial to get the message out to as many people as possible so they can make positive lifestyle changes to decrease their risk of disease,” said Smitha Ravipudi, MPH, chief executive officer of USC Care who serves on the board of the American Heart Association. “For the first time, Keck Medical Center of USC is thrilled to join many other locations across the greater Los Angeles area to show our support of heart health through an eye-catching display of red lights.”

The medical center’s HC1, HC2, HC3 and HC4 buildings, Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital will be illuminated through Feb. 14  from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. each day.

In honor of National Wear Red Day, many Keck Medicine employees have worn red on the day for the past several years. The day is part of American Heart Month, a month-long campaign to encourage the public to focus on their cardiovascular health.

Keck Medicine of USC is dedicated to serving the needs of those with heart issues. Its clinical experts provide integrated care for a broad range of cardiovascular diseases and conditions through its dedicated cardiac and vascular care centers. You can learn more here.

— Alison Rainey