Orlando residents can now take part in a local heart health campaign
Orlando, Fla., May 29, 2025 — The American Heart Association with support from Walgreens’ locations across Orlando and the nation, will give individuals a chance to be part of the progress to reduce heart disease and stroke. Through the American Heart Association’s Life Is Why™ campaign, through June 1, people can donate at Walgreens checkout, in-store and online, while celebrating their reasons for living longer, healthier lives. Retailers and brands like Walgreens are stepping up to help make this lifesaving campaign possible.
Walgreens is mobilizing its staff and pharmacists, customers, and communities to increase CPR readiness through in-store and in-community CPR activations. Additionally, grassroots educational efforts are being made to help advance CPR preparedness by training and equipping communities with tools and resources.
"We serve approximately 9 million people each day. We witness firsthand the impact of sudden cardiac arrest when the tools to treat it are not immediately available,” said Tim Wentworth, Walgreens Boots Alliance chief executive officer and a long-time member of the American Heart Association’s CEO Roundtable. "Our relationship with the American Heart Association will help ensure that Walgreens’ team members and customers alike have the access, knowledge and resources to save a life in the event of a cardiac emergency."
More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals in the United States every year and tragically, 90% are fatal, according to the American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all. When someone’s heart stops, immediate CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) use can double or even triple their chance of surviving. Yet, less than half of people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest receive the help they need from a bystander.
Donations through the Life is Why campaign—no matter the amount—allow the Association to implement initiatives such as:
- Fund research that can improve health outcomes for heart and stroke patients.
- Train more than 2.5 million high school students in CPR annually.
- Support the work of local entrepreneurs and organizations working to improve health outcomes in under-resourced communities.
“Here in Orlando, we know that awareness is just the beginning,” said Heather Maloney, executive director, American Heart Association, Orlando. “Our next step is empowering our community with the skills to act—especially when every second counts. Increasing bystander CPR rates across Central Florida can truly save lives, and often, it’s the life of someone you love.”
To learn more about the Life is Why campaign and other participating companies, please visit www.heart.org/lifeiswhy.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, on Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries:
Emory Parkins, marketing & communications director: emory.parkins@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
