Massachusetts

Have Faith in Heart is a health education and awareness initiative of the American Heart Association in partnership with churches, community-based organizations, and community health centers in Greater Boston. The goal of Have Faith in Heart is to improve health outcomes through a focus on hypertension awareness and control and health education in faith-based settings.

The initiative focuses on populations with the highest hypertension rates, communities of color particularly Black/African Americans and Hispanic/Latinx communities. Targeted communities include neighborhoods of Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, East Boston, and Hyde Park and cities of Lowell, Lynn, Lawrence, Brockton, and Springfield that are predominately African American/Black, African Caribbean, Hispanic, communities of color, have low-socioeconomic status, or are in an under-resourced zip-code. Faith-based organizations in other neighborhoods and cities are encouraged to apply.

The American Heart Association works with community-based organizations by leveraging our science, resources, and experience to provide evidence-based initiatives. We work with organizations trusted by their communities to bring tools and resources into communities in need. And now we hope to do more of the same – with our faith-based communities.

Opportunities include, but are not limited to:

• Empowering members to know their blood pressure numbers through bi-weekly blood pressure screenings
• Obtaining an AED for their facility
• Fostering CPR training and cardiac emergency response planning for your community

If you are a faith-based organization interested in being a part of Have Faith in Heart, please submit your application by clicking below.

Applications are open until September 30, 2025. Upon receipt of applications, AHA Community Impact Staff will review and invite qualified faith-based organizations for an interview. Click below to apply!

The American Heart Association stands with our communities by advocating for laws and policies that help people access care, avoid tobacco and eat healthier.

The moving force behind these efforts are our You’re the Cure advocates. These are Americans from all walks of life who advocate for legislative and regulatory policies in Massachusetts and across the country.

You can make a difference by lending your voice to this cause. Join the You’re the Cure network today by visiting yourethecure.org/join.

To learn more about our advocacy work, contact Allyson Perron, our senior state government relations lead, at [email protected].

The American Heart Association is honored to be working with some of the most passionate companies in Massachusetts. These supporters are vital to helping us achieve our mission.

To get your company involved in Greater Boston, contact Jessica Berretta, our vice president of development, at [email protected].

To get involved in Central Massachusetts, contact Sabrina Webb, our development director in that region, at [email protected].

The American Heart Association is committed to driving equitable health impact in Massachusetts through five key priority areas: women, readiness, tobacco and vaping, patients, and healthy living. Through our focus on these key areas, and with collaboration among local organizations, sponsors, businesses, and others that serve the community, we are working to improve the health and well-being of Massachusetts citizens while saving and improving countless lives.

Throughout Massachusetts, we’ve seen our community impact work grow, including efforts around creating avenues for greater access to care, expanding healthy food access and education, building a network of first responders through CPR kits in schools, supporting blood pressure screenings and education, and educating on the dangers of tobacco and vaping.

People are counting on us as never before. We at the American Heart Association, along with our supporters, will drive change, and we will be relentless. Thank you for your continued support.

To learn more about this work in Greater Boston, contact Adriene Worthington, our vice president of community impact. For Central Massachusetts, contact, Caitlin Price, our community impact director.

Have you or someone you care about suffered from heart disease or stroke? Give hope to others by sharing your story.

At the American Heart Association, we often receive requests from the media, companies, schools and other organizations for individuals to share their stories. These stories help us spread awareness and provide hope.

To share your story, contact Chris Camire, our marketing and communications director, at [email protected].