Credit: heart.org
Priscilla Duffy (pictured), Assistant Broker in Charge for Kiawah Island Real Estate, is the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Charleston Woman of Impact Winner for 2025. She won the local competition by raising funds and increasing awareness to combat heart disease and stroke in women while improving overall well-being in the community. According to the American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women in the U.S.
“Thanks to the efforts of incredible leaders like Priscilla and all of our nominees, we’re making strides to ensure all women in the Lowcountry are seen, heard and counted when it comes to their health,” said Amber Mufale, 2025 Go Red for Women chairperson. “Together, we have the power to help ensure more women are represented in research, have the information they need for heart health through every stage of life and receive quality and timely care. The power of our community coming together creates better health outcomes for all of us.”
Over the course of nine weeks, Priscilla, along with a team of family, friends and colleagues, competed for the Woman of Impact title by participating in various community awareness and fundraising activities. After raising critical funds and driving women’s health education initiatives, Duffy was named this year’s winner. The Woman of Impact campaign is part of the American Heart Association’s signature Go Red for Women movement, a comprehensive platform that has been increasing women’s heart health awareness and improving the lives of women globally for more than two decades.
“It was important for me to participate in Woman of Impact because my son was born with a congenital heart defect and I know how important heart health education is,” said Duffy. “I am honored to have received this recognition and am excited to continue working alongside the American Heart Association and its Go Red for Women initiative to help ensure all women know their risk factors and have the information they need to live longer, healthier lives.”
The Woman of Impact campaign launched in over 100 cities on National Wear Red Day®, February 7. In Charleston, six community leaders were nominated to participate. Collectively, this year’s Charleston nominees raised over $165,000 for the Charleston American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement.
Other local nominees included:
- Sonia Hanson, SouthState Bank
- Courtney Johnson, Atlanta Life Insurance Company
- Ashley O’Brien The Pulse Charleston
- Paula Stubblefield, C.T. Lowndes & Company
- Tess Ferm, Teen of Impact Nominee, student at Porter-Gaud
While the large majority of cardiac events can be prevented, CVD continues to be a woman’s greatest health threat, as nearly 45% of women over age 20 are living with some form of CVD. Women also experience unique life stages, like pregnancy and menopause, that can increase their risk of developing CVD. Community leaders involved in Woman of Impact are paving the way for the future of women’s heart health and enabling more women to live longer and healthier lives.
To learn more about the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement in Charleston visit www.heart.org/CharlestonGoRed