Philadelphia, PA – June 4, 2022 – The American Heart Association believes, structural racism and economic status are a key cause of poor health which can lead to premature death from heart disease and stroke. The association seeks to put an end to this by funding various initiatives that provide assistance to communities that are greatly affected. They are able to continue to push forward their life saving mission through people like Andrea and Ken Frazier who want to make a positive impact.
Their donation to the Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund is supporting community-led social and economic solutions intended to improve health equity in Philadelphia. Since the program launched in 2020 it has helped 11 social entrepreneurs and non-profits further their cause. Andrea and Ken’s gift will help get more people the assistance that they desperately need. The finances are going towards two rounds of funding for organizations that provide food, housing, healthcare to those in need in North Philadelphia.
Andrea and Ken are no stranger to lending a helping hand. The couple has been a longtime supporter of AHA and are eager to help out wherever they can. Currently, Andrea is a board member for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women’s Circle of Red society and they both participate in various volunteer opportunities. They are passionate about helping others and making a positive impact. “Social and economic determinants have a profound impact on health outcomes in our communities. We are grateful for the opportunity to help support the Tyson Fund as it implements entrepreneurial solutions to address this issue,” Andréa and Ken Frazier said in a joint statement.
Health equity for those who are disadvantaged is something of deep importance to the couple. Ken grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Philadelphia and saw that there was a lack of resources for education and health. It was through this first-hand experience that prompted Ken to be the change that he wanted to see. As for Andrea, she experienced a stroke at 33, just days after giving birth to their first child. She was able to get the help and the medical attention that she needed, but recognized that the situation may be gravely different for those who are less fortunate. Through their own experiences they have seen how they can effectively impact lower income communities.
Their philanthropic work and dedication to the community has helped further the mission of health and vitality to all. “We are so grateful to Andréa and Ken Frazier for their ongoing support of the American Heart Association and their commitment to investing in social impact funding in their own community,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. For all of their amazing support the AHA is presenting them with the Louis B Russell Jr. Memorial Award. This annual award goes to those who have significantly helped push forward AHA’s life saving mission. Andrea and Ken are an exemplary example that the AHA is proud to celebrate.
Media Inquiries, contact Theresa Spencer at the American Heart Association at [email protected] or by calling 267-997-3354.
About American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.