Trophy West was able to talk to the American Heart Association about their upcoming event Hats for Heart, and also get some insight on their organization.
TWCL: When was the organization founded?
AMA: Before the American Heart Association existed, people with heart disease were thought to be doomed to complete bed rest — or destined to imminent death.
But a handful of pioneering physicians and social workers believed it didn’t have to be that way. They conducted studies to learn more about heart disease, America’s No. 1 killer. Then, on June 10, 1924, they met in Chicago to form the American Heart Association — believing that scientific research could lead the way to better treatment, prevention and ultimately a cure. The early American Heart Association enlisted help from hundreds, then thousands, of physicians and scientists.
From humble beginnings, the AHA has grown into the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. A shared focus on cardiovascular health unites our more than 35 million volunteers and supporters as well as our more than 2,900 employees.
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life. We want to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
Our size and scope let us have real impact. The AHA has invested more than $5 billion in research, making us the largest not-for-profit funding source for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease research next to the federal government.
TWCL: What is the organization's mission?
AMA: The mission of the American Heart Association is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.
TWCL: Tell us a little about your upcoming event - Hats for Heart.
AMA: Hats for Heart, a part of the Go Red for Women movement which raises awareness about women’s heart disease, will include onsite health screenings and assessments, a riveting fashion show, a purse-onality auction, delicious lunch, heart-warming survivor story and more.
Women are our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our spouses, and our friends. They are doctors, lawyers, changemakers, leaders, encouragers, our household stabilizers, and our master jugglers. They give and give and give - often at the expense of their own health resulting in the fact that 1 in 3 women are dying from cardiovascular disease. Hats for Heart is centered all around changing this unacceptable fact.
80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable. Through education, empowerment and taking small everyday actions, we can all work together to build a healthier world for ourselves and the women we love. We are actively working to implement sustainable change for better health throughout Tarrant County, and we cannot do it without YOU!
TWCL: How has this event impacted the community?
AMA: Our hope is for individuals to leave Hats for Heart feeling empowered and encouraged to take charge of their health and encourage the women in their community to do the same. At the Hats for Heart event, women are provided local, on-site resources and are equipped with steps to have and maintain a heart healthy lifestyle. Attendees will be exposed to various ways they too can be involved and support the mission.
TWCL: What would like our readers to know about this project? How can our readers get involved?
AMA: Your support will change the lives of children and families in our community. As we fight to ensure that all families in our community have access to heart healthy foods and resources, you can be a part of this journey – working together to create a generational change in the way Tarrant County children and families view nutrition and healthy eating. You can help vulnerable populations learn how to accurately measure and treat hypertension. You can be a part of empowering and inspiring young women to pursue careers in STEM. You can provide CPR education and create a community of lifesavers. Your support can truly change and save lives!
The American Heart Association would be so honored to have your support and attendance! Do you have a passion for the mission? We would love to hear from you and connect on all the ways you can be involved! We can’t wait to see you in your best hats!
For information about tables, tickets and donations for Hats for Heart on December 7th at the Bowden in Keller, TX, go to https://new.event.gives/hatsforheart23 or contact Maggie Beaird at maggie.beaird@heart.org, 817.901.5891.
