The American Heart Association recently announced the 2022 South Central Pennsylvania Woman of Impact nominees. These women were nominated by their peers because of their passion and drive to increase awareness of cardiovascular disease and to make a difference both in their community and for the Go Red for Women movement

The nominees are Heidi Bowie, strategic partnership client executive, Highmark; Emily Bumgarner, registered dietitian, Weis Markets; Molly Halbert, owner, m.elene vintage; Lizaida Morales, medical software trainer, UPMC Central PA; and Melissa Sprout, assistant store manager, Weis Markets.

Beginning on National Wear Red Day, Feb. 4, these five women began an eight-week initiative to transform the health of women in southcentral Pennsylvania. The nominees will recruit champions from their networks to form an impact team and work together to have a direct impact on women's health and the Go Red for Women movement. Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association's signature movement to encourage heart health awareness and harness the energy, passion and power of women to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease.

During each week of the initiative, nominees will participate in a variety of activities designed to drive mission impact and create a culture of health and health equity, locally. Nominees will help raise awareness of cardiovascular disease - the No. 1 killer of women - as well as engage women in research, train community members in CPR, organize local events and more.

In addition to performing impact activities, nominees and their impact teams will set a goal and work together to raise funds for the American Heart Association. Each activity and dollar raised will gain the nominee impact points.

On World Health Day, Thursday, April 7, the nominee whose team has made the largest impact and has accumulated the highest number of impact points will be named the South Central Pennsylvania Woman of Impact award winner. The winner and all of the nominees will be recognized for their efforts during the 2022 Capital Region Go Red for Women event set for Thursday, May 12, at the West Shore Country Club.

The Woman of Impact program began last year, and the participants raised more than $13,000, noted Wendy Oliver, regional vice president at Weis Markets and co-chair of the 2022 Capital Region Go Red for Women campaign.

For more information about the Capital Region Go Red for Women campaign, visit http://www.harrisburggored.heart.org or contact Kristie Davis at kristie.davis@heart.org or 717-730-1743.