BOSTON, December 4, 2025 — Shira Georgiou, a cardiac arrest survivor from Reading, Mass., who has used her story to champion CPR and AED awareness, has been named the American Heart Association’s Boston 2025 Leaders of Impact™ winner. Georgiou earned the recognition for her leadership and dedication to advancing the Association’s mission of ensuring longer, healthier lives for all.

“Shira and all of our Leaders of Impact nominees have done incredible work over the last seven weeks in the fight for a healthier Greater Boston,” said Karen Whitefield, executive director of the American Heart Association in Boston. “They have raised funds to support pioneering research that changes lives, spread awareness about the importance of Hands-Only CPR and advocated for health for everyone, everywhere. Their efforts, alongside those of the 344 other nominees across the U.S., support the American Heart Association’s work to save the lives of the people we love within our community and around the word.”

In the fight against heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.,[1] the American Heart Association trains and certifies millions in CPR, equipping everyday people with the skills to save lives. Through relationships with food banks and community organizations, the Heart Association connects people with healthy food to improve the health of families at home. Research funded through the Heart Association has helped countless people survive heart disease and stroke, while supporting the next generation of scientific talent.

None of this would be possible without the amazing work of volunteers like the Leaders of Impact, who raised $14,500 in Greater Boston over the course of seven weeks.

“Taking part in Leaders of Impact was personal for me because I know firsthand how quickly life can change and how critical it is for everyone to have access to lifesaving care and education,” Georgiou said. “We are working to ensure everyone in our community has the opportunity to live a long, healthy life, full of special times with their loved ones.”

Georgiou, a mother of two, survived a sudden cardiac arrest in 2023 thanks to her husband’s quick CPR and the rapid response of first responders with an AED. After receiving an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, Georgiou has become a passionate advocate for CPR training and AED access, using her experience to raise awareness and empower others to act in emergencies.

For more than 100 years, the American Heart Association has driven change by supporting health and access to health care for all, investing in groundbreaking research, educating health care professionals and patients and advocating for healthy policies. In Greater Boston, the Heart Association is specifically focused on hypertension control, as well as CPR and AED access and education.

Leaders of Impact launched on September 18 in hundreds of cities across the nation and culminated on November 5. Each nominee’s participation was focused on opportunities to be a changemaker with a shared purpose to raise critical awareness and fund the mission of the American Heart Association.

Other local nominees included Nikolaus Kovacs, who survived a sudden cardiac arrest at age 24, and Olivia Hart, who underwent a heart transplant after being diagnosed with heart failure at 22.

For more information about Leaders of Impact and a list of all the 2025 nominees, please visit leadersofimpact.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.   

 

For Media Inquiries:

Chris Camire: 781-373-4521; chris.camire@heart.org

Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org