Leadership that creates lasting impact
Local changemakers lead meaningful progress through the American Heart Association’s Leaders of Impact® campaign.
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Through Leaders of Impact®, nominees have the opportunity to forge a lasting legacy in the fight against cardiovascular disease by educating their communities, advocating for health, and raising critical funds for lifesaving research, CPR education, and equitable health.
Leaders of Impact is a competitive fundraising campaign that brings together passionate, influential, and community-minded leaders who are ready to meet the moment. Over a seven-week campaign, nominees build Impact Teams, rally their networks, and inspire others to take action for heart and brain health. The nominees who make the greatest local impact is named their cities’ Leaders of Impact Winners, and the top nominee nationwide earns the title of American Heart Association’s National Leaders of Impact Winner.
Credit: American Heart Association
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and the work of changing the future of heart and brain health cannot happen without community leaders willing to step up. Leaders of Impact gives nominees a platform to use their voice, influence, and networks to help create a healthier future for everyone, everywhere. Throughout the campaign, nominees help advance the Heart Association’s work in three critical areas: scientific research, CPR education, and equitable health. Their efforts support breakthroughs that can improve and save lives, expand access to lifesaving skills and resources, and help remove barriers to better health in communities across the country.
Local impact fuels national progress. Every conversation, every gift, and every act of leadership helps bring the fight against cardiovascular disease closer to the next breakthrough while building a nationwide network of health champions committed to meaningful change. Nominees are living the Heart Association’s goal of driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and community-based health improvements because everyone, everywhere deserves the opportunity to live a full, healthy life.
Meet the 2025 National Leaders of Impact Winner
Leaders of Impact gives nominees the unique opportunity to create lasting change in their own community. The American Heart Association’s 2025 National Leaders of Impact Winner, Laura Merrick, dedicated her campaign to giving more families the chance to save the life of a loved one. In seven weeks, she raised more than $380,000 for the Heart Association’s fight against cardiovascular disease, centering her campaign around preparedness and blood pressure education. The people of Chicago are continuing to see the impact of her campaign. Eighteen community-based organizations implemented a Blood Pressure Hub Program as part of the Heart Association’s Embracing Community Care initiative. In addition to the Blood Pressure Hub Program, a Blood Pressure Kiosk will help teach the community about the importance of checking blood pressure, changing habits, and controlling hypertension.
“It’s about creating tangible, life-changing impact, not just raising funds. And it all happens in a fast, fun, seven-week sprint that somehow shows you you’re capable of doing far more, far faster, than you ever thought possible.”
Laura Merrick American Heart Association 2025 National Leaders of Impact Winner
Merrick’s campaign also made it possible for 18 community-based organizations in Chicago to implement Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERP). These plans include providing CPR and AED education for staff, volunteers, and community members identified to serve on Cardiac Emergency Response Teams. A CERP can increase survival rates from cardiac arrest by 50% or more by enabling a trained bystander to act.
Credit: American Heart Association
The American Heart Association’s mission is personal to nominees across the country. Support for Leaders of Impact helps fund work that touches everyday life—from the science behind new treatments to the CPR training that empowers someone to act in an emergency to the local programs and policies that help more people access the care and resources they need. Since 1949, the American Heart Association has invested more than $6.1 billion in research, fueling discoveries that have helped transform the prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke. The Heart Association also trains and certifies more than 22 million people in CPR each year, equipping everyday people with the skills to save lives at home, at work, at school, and throughout the community. Through Leaders of Impact, this lifesaving work is carried forward by local leaders who are ready to use their influence for good. Their leadership helps advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere by stepping up and meeting the moment. Learn more about Leaders of Impact. Click here for more information about the American Heart Association’s impact.
22M
15%+
13.6%
$6.1B+
19M+
12M+
reduction in deaths from heart disease since 2018
people trained in CPR in 2025
reduction in deaths from stroke since 2018
in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and brain health research funding since 1949
people reached by improving nutrition in 44 communities
patients helped with a quality care initiative for high blood pressure
Leaders of Impact: Local action, national progress
2026 Leaders of Impact Nominees
Impact at a glance
