In 1924, when heart disease was considered a death sentence with no treatment and no hope, six visionary cardiologists founded the American Heart Association with a revolutionary belief: if we could understand heart disease, treatments would follow. They were right. From humble beginnings as a small professional society for doctors, the AHA has grown into the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke, uniting more than 35 million volunteers and supporters along with over 3,300 employees in a relentless mission.
Over the past century, that initial spark of determination has ignited a global movement. The AHA has invested more than $6 billion in pioneering research, becoming the largest non-governmental funder of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular research next to the federal government. Today, 22 million people are trained in CPR annually through their programs, and 19 million+ high blood pressure patients benefit from their quality care initiatives. The impact has been profound: since the organization's founding, deaths from cardiovascular diseases have been cut in half. Yet the work continues, driven by the unwavering commitment to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.