HeartCorps Service Members Improve Heart Health in Rural Communities
As an inaugural grantee of the Public Health AmeriCorps Program, the American Heart Association (AHA) launched HeartCorps to address health inequities and develop a new generation of public health leaders in rural America. The Public Health AmeriCorps Program is a joint partnership between AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
With funding from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the AHA has placed HeartCorps members in rural communities to focus on public health outcomes.
"HeartCorps is an excellent opportunity to bolster the public health workforce in communities across the country,” said Helmsley Trustee Walter Panzirer. “Developing local expertise and resources to improve health outcomes will provide long-term benefits to these communities.”
In celebration of American Heart Month, the Helmsley Charitable Trust is spotlighting some of HeartCorps’ exceptional team members.
Growing up in rural Indiana, Basil Heintzman saw first-hand the healthcare inequities faced by residents of smaller communities. After a family friend suffered a heart attack while gardening, she joined HeartCorps in 2023. Read her story here.
After working for years as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Ayden found HeartCorps to be the perfect opportunity to work closely with clients and promote healthy habits. Read more of her story here.
In her role as a health educator in rural Nebraska, TyLinn teaches heart health, blood pressure monitoring, and Bingocize, a group activity that merges bingo, exercise, and fall prevention. TyLinn also helps high schoolers adopt healthier lifestyles. Learn about her work here.
