The following comments from the American Heart Association have been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Effecting positive change can be a daunting challenge. Especially when that challenge affects nearly half of American adults with cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association believes every person deserves the opportunity for a full, healthy life. That’s why we’re working with our Leaders of Impact nominees across the country to advance health for all.

At The Heart of Each Community: What Is Leaders of Impact?

The innovative national campaign from the American Heart Association starts at the community level by empowering diverse local leaders to network, share the AHA mission and raise funds for its lifesaving work.

The AHA Leaders of Impact campaign launches annually across 150 U.S. communities on World Heart Day. In each community, leaders step up to make a difference where they work and live, relentlessly focusing on driving equitable health for all. With resources and consultation from the AHA, each leader builds a unique campaign plan, recruits a local team and inspires their network to build a legacy of lasting impact on the health of their community by sharing the AHA mission.

The leader who makes the greatest impact and raises the most funds in each community during the seven-week campaign will be named a local Leaders of Impact winner. The leader who raises the most funds nationwide will be named the American Heart Association 2022 National Leaders of Impact Winner.

Leaders of Impact: Meet The 2022 Nominees

Local leaders are nominated from within their community and come from a variety of public and private-sector industries and social groups.

Here are the 2022 leaders who are building teams, raising funds and passionately working to save lives and improve their communities.

Bringing Home Healthier Lives For All

Leaders of Impact nominees share a goal of creating healthier lives for all, driving positive change in communities across the nation. With the support of local leaders, their teams and our other AHA volunteers we have:

• Trained 22 million people in CPR each year
• Helped over 19 million patients with a quality care initiative for high blood pressure
• Reduced CVD mortality by 70.5%¹ and reduced stroke mortality by 37%²
• Funded more than $5 billion in research³
• Impacted over 16 million people by increasing access to nutrition security in 28 communities⁴