The American Heart Association has named Dawn French as chair of the 2026 Westchester Heart Walk, set for Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, New York. The announcement frames the Heart Walk as a regional effort to raise funds and awareness in the fight against heart disease and stroke.
French serves as chief of staff and senior vice president for marketing and community relations at White Plains Hospital. She also served as immediate past chair of the Heart Association - Westchester/Fairfield board of directors and "seamlessly stepped into the role of Heart Walk chair immediately after finishing her term" to continue her involvement with the organization.
A personal family event underpins French's commitment to the cause. Her father survived a sudden cardiac arrest in 2021, an experience the release describes as transformative. That incident, and the recognition that most cardiac episodes occur outside a medical facility when few people are present to help, motivated her to push for greater public education and emergency preparedness.
French is quoted directly in the source saying, "Knowledge is power." She went on to underscore the urgency of community preparedness by noting, "Tragically, 9 of every 10 people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital do not survive. We can help change that." French called for education, funding and personal commitment to understanding health risks, and she challenged the community to join the Heart Walk and find ways to make a difference.
Kristen Alouisa, executive director of the Heart Association - Westchester/Fairfield, is also quoted in the release: "Dawn leads by example and her dedication to our community is unmatched." Alouisa said French's professional expertise and personal connection will inspire many to take steps to learn life-saving skills.
The Heart Walk is described in the source as the premier event for raising funds to save lives from the nation’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers, heart disease and stroke. The 2026 Westchester Heart Walk will take place on Sept. 26, 2026, at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla. The event's fundraising and outreach efforts are positioned to support the AHA's broader goals of education, prevention and lifesaving interventions.
Beyond the mission-focused walk, the event will feature a festival area for families with a variety of activities. The source lists specific attractions including a Kids Zone, photobooths, a Hands-Only CPR booth, sponsor activations and other on-site offerings designed to engage participants of all ages and promote community involvement.
The release ties the Heart Walk to the American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers initiative, which stresses the critical need for at least one person in every household to learn CPR. The Heart Walk is identified as a direct contributor to that goal by promoting education and hands-on experiences such as the Hands-Only CPR booth.
For more information on the event or sponsorship opportunities, the source provides direct contact details: Kristen Alouisa at kristen.alouisa@heart.org. The release also lists the event website as www.westchesterheartwalk.org for additional details and resources.
The source includes the American Heart Association's organizational statement: the AHA describes itself as a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, dedicated to equitable health in all communities. The release notes the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years, is supported by millions of volunteers globally, funds research, advocates for public health and provides resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke.
The source lists media and public contacts included in the release. For media inquiries the contact given is Bong Arquiza, Bong.Arquiza@heart.org. For public inquiries the release lists the AHA public phone line at 1-800-AHA-USA1.