AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION 1-800-AHA-USA1 heart.org AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION A division of the American Heart Association 1-888-4-STROKE (1-888-478-7653). For more information on life after stroke, ask for the stroke family “Warmline.” StrokeAssociation.org NATIONAL CENTER 7272 Greenville Avenue • Dallas, TX • 75231-4596 The American Heart Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ANNUAL REPORT ©2014, American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited. 11/14KB0747 “After a near-death experience and recovery from a debilitating illness, I have regained hope thanks to the support of the American Heart Association. Being able to share my story with others has been a major part of the healing process. I appreciate the AHA promoting survivors, their stories and their lives ongoing.” Cheryl Lawson of The Colony, Texas, who went into cardiac arrest triggered by a stress-induced condition known as “broken heart syndrome.” After receiving two stents to prop open arteries, her right main artery collapsed; her doctor said she was the first person he’d seen survive that. Lifestyle changes are a major part of her recovery, as is advocating for women to understand and improve their heart health. “Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, yet too many of us ignore or downplay our symptoms, especially while pregnant. I’m living proof that the American Heart Association saves and improves lives. My husband, daughter and I are forever grateful.” Jill Russell of Woodridge, Ill., who went into heart failure while pregnant. Days after giving birth, her symptoms worsened. The problem finally was traced and treatment began. Nine years later, she’s completed triathlons and a marathon, and works with Go Red For Women to increase awareness of heart issues women face. annual report Bernard P. Dennis Mariell Jessup, M.D., FAHA Chairman of the Board President From the Chairman of the Board and President We are thrilled to report that the American Heart Association is coming off a breakout year, one Always eyeing the future, our Strategic Planning Task Force culminated its work this year with in which we experienced phenomenal growth in nearly every aspect of our organization. a meticulously sketched blueprint. The foundation for this plan is twofold: It encompasses our new Guiding Values, as well as the 2014-17 update to our Strategic Plan. Our Guiding Values Most thrilling of all is knowing what this work truly means: We are changing lives. Volunteers and drive everything we do as an organization, and our Strategic Plan helps chart our immediate supporters like us joined with the AHA because we share a commitment to saving and improving path to saving and improving lives. lives in a very real way. Together, we know we can transform lives by helping people get healthier, enjoy their lives more, and avoid the tragic consequences of heart disease and stroke. The eight Guiding Values and the latest Strategic Plan come at an opportune time – nearly midway through our decade-long 2020 Impact Goal. The new Strategic Plan places renewed We set out to do this in a number of ways that reinforce the AHA’s role as a national leader in and re-energized emphasis on key markets and issues that we have long worked hard to serve: fighting obesity, opposing tobacco, improving the health of women and children, and serving children, women, patients, multicultural, healthy living, high blood pressure and stroke. underserved populations. We expanded and improved our research portfolio, helped educate people, and drove legislative actions aligned to our mission of building healthier lives, free of Plans for each market and issue are rooted in engaging individuals and organizations to build cardiovascular diseases and stroke. As a result, we took more strides toward our ambitious a culture of health in their communities so we can all live in environments that support healthy 2020 Impact Goal: improving the nation’s cardiovascular health by 20 percent while reducing behaviors, timely and high-quality care, and well-being. All of this – and everything in this report – deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent, all by the year 2020. is a testament to the passion and devotion of our supporters and volunteers, from the kids jumping rope to the largest foundations and corporations, from young investigators in labs to esteemed We are also proud to have been part of one of the strongest financial years our organization researchers leading large-scale studies. has ever seen. This is signficant because it ensures we will be able to continue funding the groundbreaking, lifesaving research and initiatives Americans have come to expect from our We are proud of everything accomplished on our watch, and grateful to our fellow volunteers, organization – an organization, by the way, that celebrated its 90th anniversary this fiscal year. AHA partners and staff for their commitment. We look forward to seeing these grand plans improving and extending the lives of all Americans. bringing science to life improving people’s lives building powerful partnerships speaking in a trustworthy voice inspiring passionate commitment Nancy A. Brown Chief Executive Officer From the CEO For each of us, there are moments when the things that really matter in our lives become We developed Life is Why as a way to communicate our passion and commitment to building crystal clear. It’s impossible to predict when these moments will occur, but when they do, we a culture of health, because optimal health is what gives us the freedom to enjoy our lives know we’ve been given a gift. to the fullest. Our new tagline and logo are designed to strengthen our brand’s visibility and impact, while making a more emotional connection with our public, volunteers, employees We live for these moments, because they help to define our lives and give them special and partners. meaning. They are the reasons why we strive to do our best each day, not only for ourselves but also for those we care about. Those things in life are what inspire us as individuals – and In every community and in every family across the country, there are untold “whys” that what inspire the American Heart Association as an organization. Life is why we do all of the collectively capture the essence of our new campaign. Using #lifeiswhy and #esporlavida, things you see outlined in this Annual Report. we’re providing people with a forum to post their personal messages and photos via Twitter and Facebook. Your “why” could be the joy you feel in spending time together with a parent, child or spouse. It could be the fun of pursuing a hobby or pastime. It could be the pride you Every day on Heart.org, you can find a moving story about a survivor whose “why” feel in doing your job and doing it well, or the satisfaction of advancing in your studies is captured through our Stories From the Heart series, in addition to our new Life is at school. For many AHA volunteers and staff members, it is the indescribable warmth Why video series. In both of these fixtures you’ll find touching, firsthand accounts of that comes from being there for others who face the devastation of cardiovascular the circumstances that have compelled people to dedicate themselves to making diseases and stroke. cardiovascular health a priority. At the AHA, we want people to experience more of these moments, and that’s what inspired I hope you’ll also visit lifeiswhy.org to learn more about the campaign, to share your own us to create our new branding campaign – Life is Why, along with its Spanish-language personal “why” and to connect with the many people whose stories serve as a powerful counterpart, Es Por La Vida. reminder of why we do what we do at the American Heart Association. making an extraordinary impact meeting people where they are ensuring equitable health for all OFFICERS DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP NATIONAL CENTER LEADERSHIP BERNARD P. DENNIS JOYCE BEATTY, M.S. NANCY A. BROWN MATTHEW BANNISTER Chairman Blacklick, Ohio Chief Executive Officer Communications Acton, Massachusetts MARK A. CREAGER, M.D., FAHA MEIGHAN GIRGUS, MBA LYNNE DARROUZET, ESQ. MARIELL JESSUP, M.D., FAHA Boston, Massachusetts Chief Mission Officer Corporate Secretary & General Counsel President Philadelphia, Pennsylvania MARY CUSHMAN, M.D., M.SC., FAHA SUNDER D. JOSHI, FCA TANYA EDWARDS Colchester, Vermont Chief Administrative Officer Field Campaigns ELLIOTT M. ANTMAN, M.D., FAHA & Chief Financial Officer President-elect STEVEN R. HOUSER, PH.D., FAHA JOHN M. HAYES Boston, Massachusetts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ROSE MARIE ROBERTSON, M.D., FAHA Charitable Estate Planning Chief Science and Medical Officer ALVIN L. ROYSE, JD, CPA WILLIE E. LAWRENCE, JR., M.D., FAHA LYN HUGHES Chairman-elect Kansas City, Missouri SUZIE UPTON Corporate Relations Hillsborough, California Chief Development Officer JOHNNY LEE, M.D. GERALD JOHNSON II RON W. HADDOCK New York, New York JEREMY BEAUCHAMP Diversity and Marketing Immediate Past Chairman Executive Vice President Dallas, Texas PEGUI MARIDUENA, CMC, MBA Mid-Atlantic Affiliate PAUL KALIL Alpharetta, Georgia Mission Advancement DONNA K. ARNETT, PH.D., M.S.P.H., MIDGE LAPORTE EPSTEIN, M. ED. B.S.N., FAHA JOHN J. MULLENHOLZ Executive Vice President ROBYN LEE LANDRY Immediate Past President SouthWest Affiliate Birmingham, Alabama Falls Church, Virginia Volunteerism and Field Health KEVIN HARKER DAVID A. BUSH JAMES J. POSTL JOHN MEINERS Houston, Texas Executive Vice President Emergency Cardiovascular Care Treasurer Midwest Affiliate Hattiesburg, Mississippi & Global Strategies BERTRAM L. SCOTT Bronx, New York DAVID MARKIEWICZ LES PRITCHETT Executive Vice President Human Resources Greater Southeast Affiliate DAVID A. SPINA Wayland, Massachusetts CYNDI ROBERTS, MBA, CPA NICOLE AIELLO SAPIO, ED.D., MBA Finance Executive Vice President BERNARD J.