The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, has named Autum and husband Eric Edwards, CEO of Phlow Corporation, as co-chairs of the Heart of Richmond campaign. In this role, they are focused on driving equitable health for every member of our community, with a special focus on reducing unmanaged hypertension rates, strengthening the chain of survival, and raising more than $1 Million to support the lifesaving work of the organization.
Eric and Autum Edwards will help lead a year-long campaign, culminating in the 30th annual Richmond Heart Ball, to be held on April 29, 2022 at Main Street Station. The Richmond Heart Ball unites the community in celebrating progress toward equitable health and honoring survivors of heart disease and stroke.
“We are thrilled to have Eric and Autum’s experience, conviction and passion to help raise critical funds to advance the science and the policies that will lead to longer, healthier lives for everyone in Virginia,” said Michelle Nostheide, Executive Director.
“Autum and I have been personally impacted by heart disease and stroke and are committed to AHA’s mission of being a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Additionally, Phlow is thrilled to support this campaign due to its aligned mission of developing and manufacturing critical essential medications in the United States,” said Eric S. Edwards, MD, PhD.
The dollars raised by the Heart of Richmond campaign fund the mission of the American Heart Association to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives while supporting priority issues in the Commonwealth. High blood pressure has been identified by the American Heart Association’s Richmond board for 2022 to propel work to support the Association’s 2024 Health Equity Impact Goal, reducing barriers to health care access and quality. The AHA in Richmond is striving to reduce the amount of Richmond adults with unmanaged blood pressure to from 28% to 25%, impacting 20,000 people and their families, by 2024. Sponsors who have already signed on in support of the Heart of Richmond campaign include Phlow Corp. as a presenting sponsor, Atlantic Constructors, Baskervill, Canterbury Enterprises, ColonialWebb, Convergint Technologies, DPR Construction, Draper Aden Associates, EMC Mechanical, Encompass Health, Jones Lang LaSalle, KPMG, Liphart Steel, Northwestern Mutual, PartnerMD, Patient First, Phlow, Skanska, SRC, Wells Fargo, Whiting Turner and Williams Mullen.
Eric and Autum are working with an outstanding committee of volunteer leaders on the Executive Leadership Team for the campaign, which includes:
Patrick Barbier – Project Manager, W.M. Jordan
Molly Bransford – Business Development, Liphart Steel
Junior Burr – Owner, Canterbury Enterprises
Robert Clark – President, Baskervill
Jonathan Frank – Partner, Williams Mullen
Karah Gunther – Vice President of External Affairs & Health Policy, VCU Health
Terrence Kerner – President, Atlantic Constructors
Jeffrey Lighthiser, Hard Hats with Heart Chair – CEO & President, Draper Aden Associates
Brooks Smith – Partner, Troutman
Jay Stoda, Chairman Emeritus – Business Unit Leader, DPR Construction
Timothy Winder – Partner, Ernst & Young
To learn more about the Richmond Heart Ball, visit http://richmondvaheartball.heart.org/ or contact Sommer Goldsmith at [email protected] for more information.