“One in three people are affected by heart disease. For me, it’s a fight every day to educate people.” Stacey Gibbons
Every 21 seconds someone has a heart attack, making heart disease the number one killer in the United States. Stroke follows closely behind, and is the third leading cause of death in America. That’s why the western state’s affiliate of the American Heart Association (AHA), located in Santa Rosa and serving six counties, has made it their mission to promote heart healthy lifestyles and educate the community they serve about the warning signs of heart attack and stroke. No doubt their efforts are working because NorthBay biz readers voted the American Heart Association Best Nonprofit for 2017.
When Stacey Gibbons, executive director of the North Bay Division, was notified that AHA won best nonprofit, she was taken by surprise. “The staff and I are very grateful,” she says. “There are so many nonprofits in Sonoma County, and to be voted best nonprofit is wonderful. We have amazing volunteers.” Many Americans are touched by heart disease. “One in three people are affected by heart disease,” says Gibbons, who lost her mom to heart disease at age 65, along with two uncles. Her daughter had open-heart surgery when she was 18 months old. “For me, it’s a fight every day to educate people to know their risk factors, signs and symptoms of heart attacks and strokes, and to make a difference in their health.”
Gibbons’ mission is shared by Aqualyn Kennedy, the new director of communications and marketing, who knows first-hand how devastating a stroke can be. Kennedy suffered a stroke in college when she was 18 years old, and her recovery spurred her to take action and inspired her career path.
Gibbons, along with her staff and an army of more than 1,000 volunteers, are making significant progress. The numbers tell the story. Since they’ve opened their doors on Dutton Avenue, nearly 47,000 students participated in Jump Rope for the Heart or Hoops for the Heart; 270,000 California high school students have learned the lifesaving skill of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation); and nearly 98,000 employees have engaged in workplace wellness programs.
The foundation of their work is based on three key programs⎯CPR training, Go Red for Women and Healthy for Good. The AHA works mostly with seventh grade students to teach them CPR training in partnership with Save Lives Sonoma, but they work with employers as well. Go Red for Women is a national movement to end heart attack and stroke for women, by educating women about the warning signs, which are often different than those experienced by men); and Healthy for Good is a national movement to inspire lasting lifestyle changes with a simple four-step approach. (Eat Smart. Add color. Move more. Be well.)
Though heart disease and stroke are sobering topics, their work with the AHA (as well as the American Stroke Association) offers a bright side. Says Gibbons, “The gift is working with our volunteers who are passionate about health and dedicated in getting the word out. We welcome more volunteers and survivors to help us on our mission.” (For more information, see website below.)
“The blessing [of our work] is having a higher appreciation for life,” Kennedy adds.
But in the meantime, they continue to educate the community about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and the warning signs of heart attack or stroke. “Our main mission is to eradicate heart disease and stroke,” says Gibbons. “That’s our goal—to mitigate the numbers.” According to Gibbons, education is the key. “When it comes to heart disease and stroke, every minute counts when it comes to getting care,” she says. “It’s the power of knowing.”
