Go Red for Women 2026

Women of Impact and Teen of Impact campaigns raise awareness for the American Heart Association

WORDS By Jessica Rodgers  |   photo by Keyselle’s Canvas

Red is more than a color; it is a call to action. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign is its signature women’s initiative, dedicated to raising awareness of cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in women. The movement empowers women to take charge of their heart health, while addressing critical gaps in research, education, and care.

The statistics are sobering. Nearly 45 percent of women over age 20 are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms and the leading cause of maternal mortality. Women are also less likely than men to receive bystander CPR in a cardiac emergency. Awareness is critical, because losing even one more woman to heart disease or stroke is too many.

The Go Red for Women campaign takes the spotlight annually on the first Friday of February, which marks National Wear Red Day. On this day, buildings, news anchors, heart survivors, and community members wear red to raise awareness.

One of the most powerful expressions of Go Red for Women is the Woman of Impact and Teen of Impact campaign—a nine-week, blind competition launching annually on National Wear Red Day. Through fundraising, education, and community engagement, nominees work to make a tangible difference in women’s heart health. At the campaign’s conclusion on April 9, the individuals who make the greatest impact are named

This year’s Charleston Woman of Impact nominees bring deeply personal motivation to their advocacy. Jenn Alger, a strategic account executive at Salesforce, has seen firsthand the lifesaving advances made possible by American Heart Association research after her father survived multiple heart attacks. Kenzie Baldwin, operations manager at Adams Property Group, was inspired after her mother suffered a heart attack and now hopes to motivate other women to prioritize self-care.

Attorney Tori Rhea channels her passion into education after losing her father to a stroke at just 23. Niki Smith, parent advocate and Title I coordinator for Charleston County School District, is honoring her mother and grandmothers, all of whom battled chronic cardiovascular-related diseases. Betty Jo Sneed, VP and regional area manager at SouthState Bank, is excited to encourage women to stay strong, healthy, and proactive. Retired AT&T executive Allison Stoney, a stroke survivor, is using her voice to help women advocate for their own health.

Equally inspiring are Charleston’s Teen of Impact nominees. Kallie Long, a Bishop England High School student and Miss South Carolina High School America, is driven by her family’s genetic heart condition and her own experience with hearing loss—an invisible disability that fuels her desire to raise awareness about unseen health challenges like heart disease. Vera Nathan, a Wando High School student active in pageants, is passionate about promoting heart-health education and advocacy among her peers.

Together, these women and teens are proving that impact begins with one decision—to care, to speak up, and to act. You can support their efforts and the mission of Go Red for Women by visiting: Woman of Impact: 2.heart.org/CharlestonWOI and Teen of Impact: 2.heart.org/CharlestonTOI.

This year’s Go Red for Women campaign culminates on May 21st at the Go Red for Women Luncheon. Learn more at heart.org/CharlestonGoRed.