People in rural communities live an average of three years fewer than urban counterparts and have higher death rates from cardiovascular disease and stroke. To break down health care barriers for these residents, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association announced a statewide commitment of $7.5 million for its Mission: Lifeline Stroke initiative to strengthen stroke care across Iowa. The foundation of this new initiative is a $6.3 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
The Helmsley Charitable Trust is also granting $3 million to the American Heart Association to launch HeartCorps in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wyoming.
The goal of the initial three-year HeartCorps program is to grow a sustainable pipeline of public health workers, reduce cardiovascular risks among rural residents and accelerate the adoption and implementation of systems changes to improve cardiovascular health. Read more.
