Empowering the next generation of change-makers is easy when you are leading a group like the Central Arkansas Sweethearts.
These sophomore-age girls are strong, community-minded leaders who advocate for heart health on behalf of the American Heart Association. The 2024-25 class is made up of 70 girls from across Central Arkansas who volunteer throughout the school year participating in educational programs and activities.
Their service culminates with their introduction at the 2025 Central Arkansas Heart Ball, slated for 6-11 p.m., Saturday, March 15 in the Wally Allen Ballroom of the Statehouse Convention Center. Clad in beautiful gowns, the Sweethearts will be recognized individually on stage and perform a first dance with their escorts to the song “My Girl”.
American Heart Association-Central Arkansas Senior Development Director Kathy Findley has spearheaded the program since 2021. “The Sweetheart program is a great opportunity for young women to learn about heart health, philanthropy and advocacy while having fun and building a community,” said Findley.
Sweethearts are required to complete at least 25 hours of educational programing and community service, raise funds and become certified in CPR.
Because Findley recruits the best of the best, many of these girls go above and beyond in their volunteer and fundraising efforts. The Sweetheart who has volunteered the most hours will receive the Sotomora Service Award. And one dedicated young lady will receive the prestigious Allison Justiss Sweetheart Memorial Scholarship, a $5,000 college scholarship given out in memory of former Sweetheart, Allison Justiss, by her parents.
The group is expected to raise $90,000 to advance the health of the Central Arkansas community.
Education is another core pillar of the Sweethearts program. The girls take time to learn about heart healthy lifestyles and the prevention of heart disease. In addition to getting their CPR certification at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, they participated in a healthy eating and fitness program at Arkansas Heart Hospital and learned about stroke and blood pressure at Baptist Health. The group also toured the simulation lab at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Nursing and a medical research facility at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Sweethearts participated in an “Internship Day” at CHI St. Vincent, where they learned about emergency and heart procedures and were trained in Stop the Bleed, a national campaign that trains people to help control bleeding in an emergency.
They walked from the Association’s office downtown to the state Capitol to learn about advocacy, and they curated silent auction items for the heart ball. Their efforts make a significant impact, bringing heart health awareness to the forefront and supporting vital causes in their community.
It’s not just the community that’s benefiting from the hard work of the Sweethearts—the girls themselves gain a great deal. Through education and empowerment, they develop team-building skills and earn valuable leadership experience.
“The girls are not only educating themselves, but they are also developing confidence in articulating the mission of the American Heart Association,” said Findley. That mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke through research, education, advocacy, and community outreach.
Sweethearts are a sisterhood of service-minded girls of the same age who might not have met otherwise. Even after their service is concluded, some stay involved as members of the Sweetheart Leadership program. Those in the elevated program serve as philanthropic mentors to the younger girls, encouraging them to stay active and involved in volunteering for the Association.
The 10 girls serving on this team are a testament to the impact that the Sweethearts program has on its participants.
Girls interested in becoming a 2025-26 Central Arkansas Sweetheart should contact Kathy Findley at Kathy.Findley@heart.org. More information about the Central Arkansas Heart Ball can be found at heart.org/heartofcentralar.
Cover image: Aubrie White, Holland Rucker, Harper Wilson, Ali Elrod, Lilly Seagraves, Caroline Zink
