Tarrant County rallies to give heart disease the boot
FORT WORTH, March 12, 2025 — The annual Tarrant County Go Red for Women luncheon brought together the community to learn about women’s heart health and help fund critical, lifesaving research. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, claiming more lives than all cancers combined, yet women remain underdiagnosed and untreated. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement is committed to ensuring women are no longer disproportionately affected.
On Friday, February 28, 2025, over 500 guests dressed in red and western attire attended the 2025 Tarrant County Go Red for Women Luncheon at The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel, united to give women’s greatest health threat ‘the boot’. The luncheon, chaired by Dr. Amy Papst, Chief Quality and Medical Officer at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, and Becky Renfro Borbolla, Senior Vice President at Renfro Foods, honored survivors and celebrated advancements in heart health. The yearlong Tarrant County campaign is on track to raise one million dollars to continue to better identify, diagnose, treat, and prevent heart disease in women.
The luncheon featured notable appearances by Bianca Castro, NBC5 DFW as emcee for the day; Keely Henry, champion Texas Barrel Racer and the day’s featured survivor; survivor and program host, Dr. ShantaQuilette D. Carter-Williams; advocate Annette Addo-Yobo, Miss Texas 2024-2025, and fellow titleholders from the Miss Texas organization. Various activities combined education with entertainment, ensuring a fun and engaging experience for attendees of the annual event. Guests took part in health assessments and Hands-Only CPR demonstrations. The event also featured a puppy station, a silent auction, an interactive tribute wall, and numerous photo opportunities.
“Through Go Red for Women, we’re funding research to advance innovative solutions specific to women’s unique health needs,” said Meagan Hemenway, Executive Director of the American Heart Association in Tarrant County. “Here in Tarrant County, Go Red for Women is impacting women’s health and well-being at every age, stage, and season of their lives. This effort is reflected in every aspect of our local Go Red Movement, thanks in large part to our bold advocates and supporters.”
45% of women over age 20 are living with some form of CVD. It is also the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S., and pregnancy-related deaths are on the rise. Yet, according to an American Heart Association special report, younger generations of women, Gen Z and Millennials, are less likely to be aware of their greatest health threat, including knowing the warning signs of heart attacks and strokes.
The American Heart Association’s Go Red initiative has made significant strides in Tarrant County and beyond, affecting women’s heart health and prevention efforts like increased summer meal access for about 3,000 local children, and supporting three new sites to help with nutrition alongside CitySquare. Four new food access points were also established in North Texas, increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables. Additionally, almost 3 million kids, parents, and teachers participated in the Kids Heart Challenge, spreading heart-healthy messaging to countless family members and faculty. Over 1 million Texas residents learned CPR and the local initiative also provided 100 students from underserved communities in the area with a one-day interactive experience to explore the exciting world of STEM careers.
Since 2004, the Go Red for Women movement has raised awareness and addressed clinical care gaps for women. As the movement celebrates more than 20 years of making an impact, the Association, a global force for healthier lives for all for more than 100 years, calls on all women to take charge of their health and make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of their community. This year, Go Red for Women is nationally sponsored by CVS Health and the Tarrant County Go Red for Women Luncheon is locally sponsored by Texas Health.
During the luncheon experience, the Association recognized Barclay Berdan, CEO of Texas Health, for his extraordinary contributions and honored Texas Health’s long-standing commitment to the Go Red movement. Berdan celebrated his organization’s commitment to continued support for the Association’s initiatives to combat heart disease among women in North Texas for years to come.
Next year’s Go Red for Women Luncheon planning is already underway and early supporters for the 2026 event include CVS, TPG Global, BNSF Railway, Encompass Health, HKS, Texas Health Southlake, Frost Bank, Becky and Henry Borbolla, and Dr. Amy Papst. For more information or to connect with the Tarrant County Go Red for Women, contact Maggie Beaird at Maggie.Beaird@heart.org.
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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, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1
About Go Red for Women®
The American Heart Association’s signature initiative, Go Red for Women®, is a comprehensive platform designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally. While the majority of cardiac events can be prevented, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, claiming the lives of 1 in 3 women. For more than two decades, Go Red for Women has encouraged awareness. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and power of women to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. It challenges them to know their risk for heart disease and take action to reduce their personal risk. It also gives them tools they need to lead a heart healthy life. The Go Red for Women movement is nationally sponsored by CVS Health, with additional support from national cause supporters. For more information, please visit GoRedforWomen.org or call 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721).
For Media Inquiries:
Lindsey Lyons Jones - Lindsey.LyonsJones@Heart.org
Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
