The money raised will benefit the American Heart Association’s programs of research and education. Since 1949, the American Heart Association has spent more than $3.5 billion on research to increase our knowledge about cardiovascular disease and stroke. Currently, the American Heart Association is investing $522,000 at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and University of Arkansas of Medical Science, Little Rock totaling 21 research projects. Closing the funding gap is critical to advancing our life saving mission, $446,490 in meritorious research unfunded in Arkansas.