Six Toledoans are joining the American Heart Association’s Leaders of Impact initiative, working to remove barriers to equitable health for the residents in their community by helping raise funds and needed awareness.
According to the American Heart Association, celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service in 2024, health inequities related to high blood pressure rates, tobacco use, lack of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, access to healthy food and life expectancy gaps can impact 80 percent of health outcomes.
“The American Heart Association is continuing the pursuit of a world free of cardiovascular disease and stroke, through communitybased efforts such as Leaders of Impact,” said Mindy Hartwick, executive director of the AHA. “This program allows Toledo leaders and stakeholders to be a part of the solution to changing health outcomes and raise the profile of ways that we can create healthier lives right here at home.”
Hundreds of volunteer nominees nationwide are taking part in a seven-week competition to improve their local community health. Participants are challenged with completing tasks throughout the program, leveraging their collective influence to educate communities on the symptoms and warning signs of heart disease, raise dollars to help fund lifesaving research and advocate for the health and well-being of all.
Toledo’s 2024 Leaders of Impact nominees are:
•Dawn Bentley, CAIRE, LLC
•Greg Braylock Jr., ProMedica
•Jennifer Weddington, Sigma Technologies
•Sonia Flunder McNair, SONIA Organics
•Tammie Brainard, William Vaughan Company
•Terry Crosby, Taylor Automotive On December 4, the winner will be named. In addition to local community winners, one changemaker identified from across the country will be named the National Leaders of Impact Winner.
“At the American Heart Association, our future is about improving yours. We are thrilled that these leaders have joined us in our relentless efforts to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere but especially in Toledo,” said Emma Helvey, Toledo board chair. “We are committed to removing barriers to equitable health through our work in communities, supporting groundbreaking scientific research and advocating for healthy policies. The Leaders of Impact nominees are playing a pivotal role in driving change and ensuring that all people have the opportunity to live healthier lives.”
