SAN DIEGO, April 27, 2026 - Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death in San Diego County and according to the American Heart Association, approximately 80% of heart attacks and strokes are preventable. A real estate executive and high school sophomore have successfully channeled their energy and passion to build a healthier San Diego and raise critical dollars to help fund the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association, earning them recognition from the organization.
Ashley McEvers is the 2026 San Diego Woman of Impact winner and Charley Williams has been named this year's 2026 San Diego Teen of Impact winner. The Association, devoted to changing the future to a world of healthier lives for all, is celebrating change makers in over 160 communities across the nation.
These leaders used their campaigns to make the greatest impact in their communities by raising awareness for heart health and funds for lifesaving research, advocacy and education. The Woman of Impact and Teen of Impact campaigns launched on National Wear Red Day® , Friday, Feb.
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Impetus for Community Change: San Diego Leaders Spotlight the Go Red Movement and Youth Engagement
It frames cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a leading cause of death in San Diego County and notes the AHA’s assessment that roughly 80% of heart attacks and strokes are preventable.
It also situates the Go Red for Women campaign as a national galvanizing effort within the AHA’s spectrum of programs.
These initiatives are described as awareness-raising and fundraising efforts aimed at advancing AHA missions, including lifesaving research, policy advocacy, and education.
In this instance, the start date was February 6.
The emphasis on blood pressure monitoring aligns with preventive strategies highlighted by the AHA as part of cardiovascular risk reduction.
Professionally, she is described as the Vice President of Strategic Growth at Pacific Sotheby’s.
Her remarks emphasize the importance of heightening awareness of cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in women and her commitment to collaborating with the AHA and Go Red for Women to improve risk factor awareness and access to support for healthier lifestyles.
Williams has a history of undergoing corrective cardiac surgery shortly after birth for Transposition of the Great Arteries, with a six-hour operation performed when she was 10 days old to address misrouted major vessels.
Her quotation underscores gratitude toward researchers, donors, and medical professionals who contributed to advances in cardiology and highlights the perceived value of research and philanthropy in enabling cures that did not exist decades earlier.
This figure represents the total philanthropic input attributed to the two local campaigns, drawn from donors and participants engaged through the initiative.
These nominees elevated awareness for cardiovascular disease and supported the AHA’s mission to combat the nation’s No.
1 health threat.
By contrast, the Teen of Impact initiative centers on empowering younger generations to influence heart health trajectories through collective action and outreach.
The national winners from each campaign were slated to be announced on May 20, 2026.
The movement encourages individuals to understand their personal risk factors and to adopt measures to mitigate those risks.
Information for the public is provided via GoRedforWomen.org and a dedicated helpline, underscoring the channeling of resources toward information access and support.
It emphasizes campaigns, fundraising totals, and personal narratives rather than clinical endpoints or outcomes tied to the campaigns’ activities.
The article does not present longitudinal data on community cardiovascular outcomes or measurement of program effectiveness beyond fundraising and awareness metrics.