
The American Heart Association, a nonprofit organization with a chapter in Southfield, strives to build healthier lives and create a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Due to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the AHA has moved its events online. The chapter participated in the annual heart walk – the organization’s premier event for raising funds – with the 2020 Metro Detroit Virtual Heart and Stroke Walk/Run on June 13. The organization relies on the generosity of its donors and supporters to fund education and research. Since its founding in 1924, the organization has invested more than $4.5 billion in heart disease and stroke research – more than any funding source other than the federal government. For a limited time, the AHA is matching all donations up to $550,000. According to the World Health Organization, ischemic heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of global deaths, with a combined 15.2 million deaths in 2016.