A celebration of a century of profound impact on heart health and well-being, 2024 marks the 100th birthday of the American Heart Association and the start of the organization’s Bold HeartsTM celebration. Beginning a new century of mission critical work, the organization continues the steadfast commitment to making the bold moves needed for new paths of scientific discovery, eradicating barriers to health equity and advocating for healthy policy so that every member of the metro Atlanta community has the opportunity for a longer, healthier life. That pledge to the community is shared with like-minded community leaders and organizations that are relentless in their support to eliminate heart disease and stroke in the new century.
“As we close out our first 100 years and begin the next, our work remains as important as ever. Throughout the last century, the American Heart Association has moved health and well-being forward in important and critical ways,” said Scott Webb, Metro Atlanta American Heart Association board president and Vice President, Account Services, Pointnext Technology Services at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. “We now forge ahead into our second century, fueling science and innovation, funding lifesaving research and boldly standing for the rights of patients and caregivers, to empower healthier communities and transform the way we live, work and play.”
Since its founding on June 10, 1924, the American Heart Association, devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, has helped transform the nation’s health and significantly reduce heart disease and stroke death rates. But there is much work to be done. In metro Atlanta, about 1 in 3 residents have high blood pressure, which if left untreated is a significant contributing factor to heart attacks, strokes and other health threats. Our future is about improving yours.
“This relentless pursuit will continue until heart disease and stroke are the stories of our past and not of our future. Because a world with equitable health and well-being fuels a future that is yours to create,” said Marcus Brown, MD, Metro Atlanta American Heart Association board president and interventional cardiologist at Northside Hospital. “We know we can’t do this work alone. Volunteers, donors and advocates are key to accelerating this lifesaving work.”
Through its local initiatives, the Metro Atlanta American Heart Association strives to create a world that provides more tomorrows with our loved ones by identifying what is needed in individual communities and addressing critical concerns to equitably improve the lives of every person in every community. Click here to read more about these initiatives in the Metro Atlanta American Heart Association Impact Report.
The narrative doesn’t just stop there; the Association still has an amazing story to story to tell. But that story is best told in the lives touched and transformed by science and medical advancement, such as 26-year-old boxer, Evan Holyfield. With each beat of his heart, he faced the formidable challenge of cardiovascular disease head-on. In July 2023, he started to experience shortness of breath, numbness in his legs and chest pain causing concern for his health. Holyfield received an anomalous coronary artery diagnosis — a congenital heart defect that caused an artery to grow in the wrong place. A few months later in September 2023, he was scheduled for the biggest fight of his life – open-heart surgery.
Through treatments and therapies, Holyfield navigated with steadfast determination, fueled by hope and the unwavering support of loved ones. Now in recovery, Holyfield feels stronger than he’s ever been. His story is not just one of survival, but of triumph—a beacon of inspiration for countless others grappling with similar battles. United by the mission of the American Heart Association, Holyfield’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of resilience, advocacy, and the relentless pursuit of a healthier tomorrow.
With a focus on the work still to be done, bolstered by a commitment to learn from the past, the Association celebrates what it has accomplished, thanks to the hard work and dedication of generations of volunteers and donors.
Get involved and support the next century of lifesaving work! To learn more about accomplishments in the first 100 years of the American Heart Association or how to participate in the Second Century campaign, visit heart.org/atlanta or contact us atlanta@heart.org for more information.
