With projections indicating at least 6 in 10 U.S. adults will develop some form of cardiovascular disease, causing related healthcare costs to triple, the American Heart Association has recognized two innovators developing scalable solutions to address this growing crisis. The Association's 2026 Impact with Heart recognition highlights organizations tackling the social drivers of health that shape cardiovascular outcomes beyond clinical care.
The recognition program focuses on lifting up community-based entrepreneurs and organizations powered by the Association's Social Impact Funds and its venture philanthropy program, as well as the EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator™. This support pairs investment capital with coaching and strategic guidance to help ensure participating companies succeed in scaling their health solutions.
This year's honorees include Mammha, a Miami-based Social Impact Funds portfolio company transforming perinatal mental health care. Founded and led by CEO Maureen Fura, Mammha's text- and web-based platform streamlines maternal mental health screening, referral and treatment in clinics and remotely to help more mothers who may be experiencing depression and anxiety receive timely, culturally relevant support.
The second honoree is ThriveLink, a St. Louis-headquartered EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator alumnus using AI-powered voice technology to enroll families in essential programs like Medicaid, food assistance and utility support. Founded and led by CEO Kwamane Liddell, ThriveLink removes internet and literacy hurdles so people can complete complex applications by voice, reducing paperwork barriers and connecting families to life-changing resources. A recent investment by the Social Impact Funds is accelerating ThriveLink's reach.
"The American Heart Association has a long history of impact, but the challenges ahead demand new approaches, new partnerships and bold leadership," said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. "What you see through Impact with Heart are powerful examples of what's possible when mission-driven innovators are given the resources, trust and support to scale ideas that remove barriers to care and improve lives."
The Association's Social Impact Funds, launched in 2018 as part of American Heart Association Ventures, support for-profit and nonprofit organizations tackling key social drivers of health through a program of equity investments, loans and grants. Research published in https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001256 forecasts the growing burden of cardiovascular disease through 2050, while another advisory at https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.000000000000093 identifies structural racism as a fundamental driver of health disparities.
The EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator provides philanthropic support and an MBA-style curriculum that helps health-focused entrepreneurs refine business models, strengthen storytelling and prepare to scale solutions that address food and nutrition security, access to care and community impact. These initiatives recognize that optimal cardiovascular health is shaped not only by clinical care but also by access to coverage, transportation, nutritious food and stress-reducing support.
With heart disease and stroke already killing more than all forms of cancer combined each year, and projections indicating cardiovascular disease prevalence will only continue to grow, these community-based innovations represent critical approaches to addressing the systemic barriers that contribute to poor health outcomes. The American Heart Association's support for these scalable solutions comes as the organization works to implement proven approaches to combat the rising tide of cardiovascular disease affecting communities nationwide.
