Michael Donohue mobilizes New Jersey’s corporate leaders to build community of lifesavers as chair of the American Heart Association Heart Walk
Michael Donohue, SVP, chief procurement officer and head of global real estate/facilities at ADP, will lead the charge as the 2025 Greater New Jersey Heart Walk Chair to build a community of lifesavers in the Garden State. Under Donohue’s leadership, top executives throughout the region will unite to recruit companies and organizations to join the upcoming American Heart Association Heart Walks. These walks are a year-round campaign aimed at raising funds to fight cardiovascular disease and strokes while equipping people with education, knowledge and resources to act in the face of a cardiac emergency by learning CPR.
The American Heart Association, celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service in 2024, 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]. Mike Donohue and a team of top executive leaders are committed to ensuring that more people in New Jersey are prepared to respond effectively in these life-or-death situations.
“The Greater New Jersey Heart Walk gives residents and employees an extraordinary opportunity to address this critical issue in our community,” said Jeannine Simao, senior development director of the Greater New Jersey Heart Walk. “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 network of lifesavers throughout the state. With Mike Donohue at the helm, we are confident this year’s campaign will have an even greater impact.”
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. 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 knows CPR,” said Donohue. “The impact of having a trained, confident lifesaver in every home across New Jersey cannot be overstated. By joining the American Heart Association’s Heart 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 Walk campaign will culminate in October at three locations in Northern and Central New Jersey, where local 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. The Greater New Jersey Heart Walks are locally sponsored by ADP, Bayer, NJM Insurance Group and Hackensack Meridian Health. Companies interested in participating can contact Jeannine Simao at Jeannine.Simao@heart.org. For more information about the Greater New Jersey Heart Walk, visit http://www.heart.org/greaternjwalk.
[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