As a baby born eight weeks premature, I was born with two holes in my heart. At the age of 13, I was diagnosed with a heart murmur in addition to leaky valves and mitral insufficiency, the most common form of valvular heart disease. I created Start Heart Smart as an outlet to be able to share my story of heart disease in hopes of better educating our youth on the importance of heart health.
Since creating Start Heart Smart, I have had the opportunity to travel to over 25 counties, 170 classrooms, & meet with over 4,000 students to speak to students about my story with heart disease and to educate them on how our choices directly affect the way our heart functions.
In addition to visiting classrooms and events, I have worked with the American Heart Association, Hurley Medical Center’s Teen Heart Check Program, Thomas Smith Memorial Foundation, and the London Strong Foundation to help promote teen heart checks and CPR training.
Additionally, I have created a subsection of Start Heart Smart titled “Care for Cardiac: Care Packages.” Through this program, I have been able to donate over 315 cardiac care packages to pediatric cardiovascular patients.
I also have had the opportunity to speak to government leaders and politicians such as Representative Tim Sneller, Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley, Senator Katie Britt, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer in regards to Start Heart Smart and increasing the curriculum surrounding heart health in our education system.
I am raising funds for educational scholarships and heart research with the AHA GO RED x Miss America collaboration! American Heart Association's Go Red for Women has joined forces with Miss America's Scholarship Foundation to raise both research dollars AND tuition scholarships, ensuring a healthier, smarter future for women in America.
Your support is needed, and so greatly appreciated. Join the movement to end heart disease and provide tuition scholarships to women in America. No donation is too small!
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Miss America and Miss America's Teen National Scholarships are awarded by a separate non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the Miss America's Scholarship Foundation Inc. This collaboration provides funds for national awards, and in addition, both Miss America's/Miss America's Teen State Scholarships and the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement. The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women is Miss America's Scholarship Foundation's national health thought leader. All above mentioned entities are 501(c)(3) organizations and all donations to this campaign are fully tax-deductible per IRS regulations.
