Centennial Coverage

The AHA turns 100

For 100 years, the American Heart Association, along with our volunteers, supporters and collaborating organizations, has worked to build longer, healthier lives. Here is a look at major feats over our first century.
Explore 100 years of impact

Our Future is About Improving Yours

The American Heart Association is committed to advancing health and hope for everyone, everywhere, creating a vision for brighter tomorrows free from heart disease and stroke. Join us in celebrating survivors and caregivers and honoring those we have lost.
When the AHA was founded June 10, 1924, heart disease was considered a death sentence. The best option for many people, they were told, was bed rest. There was no treatment, no hope. But the AHA’s founders didn’t believe that. They felt that if we only understood heart disease, treatments would follow. And were they ever right. Fast-forward to today and there are not only treatments, but proven ways to lower your risk for heart disease as well as stroke. Through scientific research and the power of millions of volunteers and supporters, we have a deeper understanding of the many factors that contribute to these diseases: from traditional medical issues such has high blood pressure to societal problems, structural racism and discrimination.

And there’s no letting up in the next 100 years as we remain devoted to a future of health and hope for everyone, everywhere.
100 Years

A century of progress against cardiovascular disease

While the AHA began as a small medical association, it’s now, well, everywhere. The dedication of millions of volunteers and supporters has resulted in healthier lives wherever you turn: the grocery store, restaurants, airplanes, communities and, of course, in hospitals and doctor’s offices.

Learn where it all started

Did you know?

A century of historical tidbits
Eleanor Roosevelt, who was born Oct. 11, 1884, regularly mentioned the American Heart Association in her newspaper columns.

History at Heart

American Heart Association News looks at what we've learned about heart and brain health over the past century, and what’s next.
Read more from History at Heart

Join the Movement to be Healthy for GoodTM

As the American Heart Association harnesses 100 years of saving and improving lives to boldly build a Second Century of equitable health for all.

Healthy for Good is a healthy living movement to inspire lasting change in your health and your life, one small step at a time.

The approach is simple: Eat smart. Move more. Be well.

Sign me up

Bold Stories From the Heart

  • Peripartum cardiomyopathy survivor Yanela Vickers shares her story of survival and recovery

  • Oscar Stuebe went into cardiac arrest during a baseball game after the ball hit his chest. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Stuebe) Read Story

    A missed pop fly stopped a 6-year-old's heart. His mom helped restart it with CPR.

  • Heart attack survivor Chantrise Holliman shares her story of survival and recovery

  • Stroke survivor and heart transplant recipient Vang Her with his family. From left: Devin, Vang, Zsuzsa and Kaiya. (Photo courtesy of Vang Her) Read Story

    He went from a stroke to a heart transplant to an Ironman finish line

  • Congestive heart failure survivor Naz Saleem shares her story of survival and recovery

  • Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome survivor Patricia Atiee (left) and her sister, Helen Vallejo. (Photo courtesy of Patricia Atiee) Read Story

    Heart-pounding episodes led woman to discover an electrical problem

A Century of Heart

Stories about the American Heart Association’s 100 years of progress fighting heart disease, stroke and related conditions.
Read more from A Century of Heart
As the American Heart Association has evolved since its founding 100 years ago, scientific and medical discovery has always been at the forefront. (AHA archives)

What it takes to be 'relentless'

Presidential advisory explores the AHA as a multifaceted engine of past, present and future progress.

Read the full story
Read the Presidential Advisory
From left, American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown, TV personality and event emcee Star Jones, AHA Chairperson of the Board Marsha Jones and 2023-24 President Joseph Wu cheer the association’s Centennial Monday night at the Bold Hearts Celebration at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, where the AHA was founded. (American Heart Association photos )

AHA marks 100th birthday at site where organization was founded

Centennial event in Chicago celebrates volunteers, supporters and a century of progress.

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A CPR training course in 1977 (American Heart Association archives)

Decades of CPR leadership have enhanced AHA's lifesaving mission

Science, advocacy and outreach aim to ensure that more people survive cardiac arrest.

Read about our progress

Our Future Is About Improving Yours

Donate

Join us in preventing and overcoming heart disease and stroke by giving now. Your donation fuels essential research, advocacy for healthy communities, enhanced patient care, and equitable health access for everyone.
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Second Century

Your support is the heartbeat of the American Heart Association and will help us achieve our anniversary celebration goal of raising $500 million by June 2024.
Join the Second Century Campaign

Centennial Edition Merchandise on ShopHeart

Limited edition merchandise created exclusively for the celebration of our centennial anniversary.
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Join Healthy for Good™ and get our free Shop Smart, Eat Smart digital recipe booklet while supplies last!