American Heart Association Woman of Impact Campaign: Four Women, One Mission, Making a Lasting Community Impact

2 hours ago
5 min read

In November 2025, I was honored to be nominated for the American Heart Association's Women of Impact campaign by TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and community leader Carrie Kass.

At the time, I saw it as an exciting opportunity to support an important cause. What I didn't realize was how transformative the journey would become.

I knew the campaign would require dedication, creativity, and commitment, but I could not have anticipated the relationships that would be built, the opportunities that would emerge, or the impact our team would ultimately make in the community.

The Woman of Impact campaign is more than a fundraising initiative. It is an opportunity to educate, advocate, and inspire action around heart health while supporting the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association.

As I began the journey, one thing became clear: meaningful impact is rarely achieved alone.

To maximize my efforts and broaden my reach, I invited three incredible women to join me. Together, we formed Queens Impact, a team united by purpose, service, and a shared commitment to making a difference.

Over the course of the campaign, we connected with supporters, raised awareness, built meaningful relationships, and successfully reached our fundraising goal.

Why the American Heart Association Mission Became Personal

My father struggled with heart issues for years and ultimately passed away following a stroke.

Like many families, ours experienced firsthand how cardiovascular disease can affect not only an individual's health but also the people who love and care for them.

When I was nominated for the American Heart Association's Women of Impact campaign, I immediately understood the significance of the opportunity.

Supporting an organization dedicated to heart health awareness, education, research, and prevention aligned with a cause that had already touched my family's life.

Throughout the campaign, I carried that perspective with me. Every conversation, event, and fundraising effort reinforced the importance of helping others better understand the risks associated with heart disease and stroke and the value of proactive health education.

Meet Queens Impact: Four Women United by Purpose

One of the greatest blessings of this experience was the opportunity to work alongside three extraordinary women who each brought unique strengths, perspectives, and passion to the campaign.

While our individual stories differed, we were united by a common goal: supporting the American Heart Association's mission and creating meaningful impact in our community.

Sharma Hill: Turning Compassion Into Advocacy

For Sharma Hill, advocacy is rooted in both compassion and lived experience.

Recently, Sharma became the guardian of her 11-year-old cousin after he experienced significant family loss due to heart disease.

Rather than allowing those circumstances to define the future, Sharma chose to channel her energy into awareness, education, and support.

Her experiences strengthened her commitment to helping others understand the importance of prevention and heart health awareness.

As the founder of Aroma Journey Fragrance Bar, Sharma believes every story leaves a lasting impact.

Throughout the campaign, she brought empathy, resilience, and a genuine desire to help others navigate challenges with hope and strength.

Yu Galloway: Leading with Purpose and Heart

Yu Galloway embodies what it means to live intentionally.

An Austin native, mother, grandmother, entrepreneur, life coach, and accomplished fiscal professional, Yu has dedicated her life to helping others create meaningful experiences and purposeful lives.

Her decision to join the Woman of Impact campaign was inspired by the ways heart disease and heart failure have affected people she cares about deeply.

Those experiences reinforced the importance of awareness, education, and proactive health conversations.

Throughout the campaign, Yu brought wisdom, encouragement, and a servant-hearted approach that helped strengthen both our team and our mission.

Micki Gram: Connecting Performance, Wellness, and Heart Health

Micki Gram brought a unique perspective to Queens Impact through her expertise in human performance, leadership, and neuroscience.

As a human performance consultant, speaker, facilitator, and certified NeuroChangeSolutions consultant, Micki helps leaders, teams, and athletes elevate how they think, communicate, and perform.

Her work explores the connections between stress, emotional regulation, performance, and overall well-being.

Because of that work, Micki understands how closely heart health is connected to many aspects of our daily lives.

Supporting the American Heart Association aligned naturally with her passion for helping people create healthier, more sustainable lives.

Her insight and leadership added tremendous value to our campaign and helped broaden important conversations around wellness and prevention.

Raising Awareness, Building Relationships, and Strengthening Community

While fundraising was a major component of the Woman of Impact campaign, some of the most meaningful outcomes could not be measured financially.

Throughout the campaign, we had the opportunity to connect with community leaders, business owners, nonprofit supporters, healthcare advocates, friends, family members, and individuals who shared their own experiences related to heart health.

Many conversations began with awareness and ended with connection.

People shared stories of loved ones affected by heart disease and stroke. Others expressed gratitude for the education being provided. Some were simply inspired to learn more about protecting their own health and the health of those they love.

Those moments reinforced the importance of the American Heart Association's mission and reminded us that awareness is often the first step toward lasting change.

Reaching Our Fundraising Goal for the American Heart Association

Every campaign begins with a goal. Ours was ambitious, but we believed in the mission and remained committed to seeing it through.

Through the generosity of donors, sponsors, supporters, and community partners, Queens Impact successfully reached our fundraising goal.

While we are proud of that accomplishment, what matters most is what those funds represent: continued research, education, advocacy, and resources that help improve heart health outcomes for individuals and families across the country.

This achievement belongs to everyone who supported the campaign and believed in the importance of this work.

The Lasting Impact of the Woman of Impact Experience

I'm incredibly grateful to Carrie Kass for the nomination and for introducing me to an experience that challenged me, inspired me, and expanded my understanding of what community impact can look like.

I am equally grateful to Sharma Hill, Yu Galloway, and Micki Gram for saying yes to the journey and for bringing their talents, passion, and dedication to Queens Impact.

Most importantly, I am thankful to every donor, sponsor, supporter, and advocate who helped us make a difference.

Together, we raised awareness, strengthened community connections, supported an important cause, and demonstrated what is possible when people unite around a shared purpose. That is the true impact of Woman of Impact.

Photography credit: Sky Bison Photography