Tell us about your organization: The American Heart Association is a nonprofit organization based in Dallas that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac and stroke care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Mission: To be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.
Paint the Town Red: Music Through the Decades
Who: Northwest Arkansas office of the American Arkansas Association
What: DJ, silent auction, local tastes, drinks, photo booth
When: VIP 6:30-7:30 p.m., general admission 7 p.m. Jan. 24
Where: Fayetteville Town Center
Tickets: VIP $150, general admission $100
Attire: Fashion from your favorite decade
Information: (479) 439-6800 or heart.org/fayettevi…
Services provided: Among a lot of other things, the organization provides CPR training, blood pressure checks, quality assurance programs in local hospitals in the areas of cardiac and stroke care and operates outreach programs that pay special attention to women and Hispanics.
Service area: Washington and Benton counties and the Fort Smith area.
How is your organization's mission unique? The American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization. We collaborate with numerous other organizations and millions of volunteers worldwide to fund innovative research, advocate for stronger public health policies and share lifesaving resources and information.
Why do you volunteer for a nonprofit organization? I am honored to be a volunteer for the American Heart Association and to be part of an incredible event that will continue to fuel the great work done by the team to support our local community.
What part of your job fills the most of your time? On the job, I am constantly learning. I am very fortunate to be a in a role I love, and my goal for myself and our team is to ensure we are constantly learning more about how we can best serve our customers and store associates.
What have you learned on the job that you didn't expect? The opportunities we are all trying to solve are very much the same regardless of the business. We are all working to improve our customer's total shopping experience to ensure Walmart is their preferred retailer. We all truly want to do our part to deliver on the goal of saving our customers money so they can live better.
What challenges face your organization? The challenges are different in every community. The Northwest Arkansas office of the AHA focuses on helping individuals and families attain and maintain a healthy weight, whether that's through better access to healthy foods, promoting proper hydration in children by providing water bottle filling stations in schools or bringing awareness and resources to help residents move more on a regular basis.
Are there volunteer opportunities in your organization? Yes. What are they? We have a wide array of volunteer opportunities that range from event set-up and social media ambassadors to advocacy and speaking engagements for a national audience.
What upcoming fundraisers and/or other events does your organization have planned? Northwest Arkansas Heart Ball, Feb. 21; Heart Walk, April 4; and the Go Red for Women luncheon and event, May 19. The AHA also hosts a cycling event, CycleNation.
NAN Profiles on 12/08/2019