Vaccaro mobilizes Central Massachusetts’ corporate leaders to build community of lifesavers as chair of American Heart Association Heart & Stroke Walk
Matthew Vaccaro, president of Masis Staffing Solutions and president of Worcester Bravehearts, will lead the charge as the 2025 American Heart Association Heart & Stroke Walk Chair to build a community of lifesavers in Central Massachusetts. Under Vaccaro’s leadership, top executives throughout the region will unite to recruit companies and organizations to join the Heart & Stroke Walk, a year-round campaign aimed at raising funds to fight cardiovascular disease and stroke while equipping people with the education, knowledge and resources to act in the face of a cardiac emergency by learning 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]. Vaccaro and a team of top executive leaders are committed to ensuring that more people in Central Massachusetts are prepared to respond effectively in these life-or-death situations.
“The Heart & Stroke Walk gives residents and employees an extraordinary opportunity to address a critical issue in our community” said Brian Shankey, executive director of the American Heart Association in Central Massachusetts. “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 & Stroke Walk, we are not just raising funds; we are raising awareness, enhancing CPR training, and building a network of lifesavers throughout Central Massachusetts. With Vaccaro at the helm, we are confident this year’s campaign will have an even greater impact in saving 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 Central Massachusetts. This year, companies participating in the Heart & Stroke 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 knows CPR,” said Vaccaro. “The impact of having a trained, confident lifesaver in every home across Central Massachusetts cannot be overstated. By joining the American Heart Association’s Heart & Stroke Walk, companies 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 & Stroke Walk campaign will culminate on June 7 at Fitton Field – College of the Holy Cross in Worcester where hundreds of 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 Sabrina Webb at sabrina.webb@heart.org. For more information about the Central Massachusetts Heart Walk, visit CentralMAHeartWalk.org.
[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