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

What does success look like? Leaders from around the country are stepping up to connect with their communities, generate lifesaving donations and build positive change—with an innovative framework from the American Heart Association.

Supporting Equitable Heart Health Across The Nation

The American Heart Association Leaders of Impact campaign inspires local leaders to make a positive impact on heart health, right where they live and work in diverse communities around the country. The seven-week program culminated on November 15, 2022—and the results have been amazing.

With resources and guidance from the American Heart Association (AHA), 209 leaders from around the nation each built a unique campaign plan, recruited a team and raised critical funds to support the AHA mission: to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.

The local impact—and national reach—included:

• 209 local leaders participating
• 411 team members participating
• 51 local communities participating
• More than $1.8 million in total funds raised

Leaders from a variety of public and private sector industries and social groups were nominated by their communities to participate. The nominee who raised the most funds in each community during the campaign was recognized as a local Leaders of Impact winner.

The nominee who raised the most funds nationwide has been celebrated as the American Heart Association 2022 National Leaders of Impact Winner.

Meet The 2022 National Leaders of Impact Winner: John Zachara

The connection to heart health hits close to home for construction executive John Zachara.

“My father was born with a bicuspid aortic valve,” says Zachara, who has been a passionate supporter of the AHA since 2010. With an aortic valve that has two flap-cusps instead of three, blood isn’t pumped efficiently and the heart must work harder than it should.

“You could hear blood swishing back into his heart, since he was a very young kid. Fortunately, he did eventually have surgery and he has a pacemaker now,” he says.

With his dad in mind, Zachara leveraged his professional network and multiplied his impact by educating and fundraising on an organizational level for the Leaders of Impact campaign.

As a vice-president at Integrated Facilities Solutions, Inc. based in the Chicago metro area, Zachara says his 25 years in the construction industry and his robust network of professional and personal contacts were key to his team’s success in raising more than $76,000.

“And there’s something special about that time, that seven-week sprint for sure,” he says. “This is a focused, concerted effort which is what I like about it. There’s a deadline, and everyone works toward that deadline.”

Equally important is his father’s journey.

“He's really the why of why heart health is important to me. All my siblings and I went and got our hearts checked,” Zachara says. “So, let's get that out there; get that word out there that this is important.”

Meet The Changemakers Transforming The Health Of Their Communities

All the Leaders of Impact participants stepped up and delivered for their communities. Every dollar raised adds to the enduring impact of the AHA mission. With a shared goal of creating healthier lives for all, each leader drove positive change to create an enduring legacy.

These leaders raised the most funds in their local community. The 2022 local Leaders of Impact winners are:

*Denotes the holder of an AHA Changemaker Club Benchmark achievement, for nominees reaching or exceeding $50,000 dollars raised.