Citizens Daniel Fitzpatrick mobilizes Philadelphia’s corporate and community leaders to build community of lifesavers as chair of American Heart Association Heart Walk
Daniel Fitzpatrick, CFA, President of Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West Regions of Citizens, will lead the charge as the 2025 American Heart Association Heart Walk Chair to build a community of lifesavers in Philadelphia. Under Fitzpatrick’s leadership, top executives and community leaders throughout Greater Philadelphia will unite to recruit companies and organizations to join the Heart Walk, a year-round campaign aimed at raising funds to fight cardiovascular disease while equipping people with education, knowledge and resources to act in the face of a cardiac emergency by learning hands only-CPR.
The American Heart Association, which has been saving lives for more than 100 years, has put a spotlight on CPR education as a critical element of the Heart Walk campaign. According to the Association, nine out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die[1] yet immediate CPR can double or even triple the chances of survival[2]. Fitzpatrick and a team of top executive leaders are committed to ensuring that more people in Philadelphia are prepared to respond effectively in these life-or-death situations.
“The Heart Walk gives Philadelphia residents and employees an extraordinary opportunity to address a critical issue in our community” said Jennifer Litchman-Green, Executive Director, Greater Philadelphia American Heart Association. “Cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere, and the difference between life and death often hinges on the quick actions of a bystander. Through the Heart Walk, we are not just raising funds; we are raising awareness, enhancing CPR training, and building a community of lifesavers throughout Philadelphia. With Dan Fitzpatrick at the helm, we are confident this year’s campaign will have an even greater impact in saving and improving lives.”
The Heart Walk, active in over 220 cities nationwide, is more than a fundraiser—it’s a movement that drives corporate involvement in the fight against cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in Philadelphia .This year, companies participating in the Heart Walk will play a crucial role in the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™ initiative, a national effort aimed at doubling cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030.
“We envision a future where at least one person in every household in Greater Philadelphia knows CPR,” said Fitzpatrick. “The impact of having a community of trained, confident lifesavers cannot be overstated. And Citizens is joining that effort by placing 5 CPR training kits into the community in collaboration with AHA. Each kit can train up to 300 people per year and equips schools and organizations with the tools and resources to self-sustain hands-only CPR education. By joining the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, companies and community-based organizations are helping to turn our community from bystanders into lifesavers, ensuring that when a cardiac emergency occurs, there is someone ready to step in and make a difference.”
The American Heart Association is a global leader in resuscitation science, education, and training, and the official publisher of CPR guidelines. Through the Nation of Lifesavers initiative, the Association is committed to empowering individuals everywhere to act in the event of a cardiac emergency, making sure that no one is left without the help they need when seconds count.
The year-round Heart Walk campaign will culminate in early November at Citizens Bank Park, where participants will walk to save lives while raising essential funds to advance lifesaving research, increase CPR education and training and drive equitable health for all people. Companies interested in participating can contact Angie Smith at angela.smith@heart.org. For more information about the Philadelphia Heart Walk, visit www.heart.org/phillywalk.
[1] https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001123 (2023 American Heart Association Stats Update)
[2] Association of Bystander and First‐Responder Efforts and Outcomes According to Sex: Results From the North Carolina