Sacramento attorney and community advocate Anh Phoong has been named the 2026 National Woman of Impact Winner by the American Heart Association, recognizing her nine-week campaign to raise awareness about women’s heart health. The award is part of the Association’s Go Red for Women movement, a nationwide initiative to improve cardiovascular health among women.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, according to the American Heart Association. For Phoong, the mission is personal: her mother survived a heart attack. “I went on this journey because my mom survived a heart attack,” Phoong said. “For so many women, that’s not the outcome. This campaign was my way of honoring her – and reminding women that we have to take care of ourselves if we want to keep showing up for everyone else.”
During the campaign, Phoong led a team of more than 100 people in Sacramento, raising funds, educating about cardiovascular risks, and promoting healthy habits such as daily movement, healthier eating, and stress management. “This is what women supporting women really looks like,” she said. “When we show up for each other, our impact is bigger.”
The Woman of Impact campaign, launched annually on National Wear Red Day, calls on changemakers to lead grassroots efforts that improve heart health. Nominees across the country reached thousands, encouraging simple actions to reduce risk. “It doesn’t have to be complicated,” Phoong said. “Go for a walk. Make better choices. Small habits add up. That’s how we take control of our health.”
The award highlights persistent gaps in awareness and care. Despite progress, fewer than half of women recognize cardiovascular disease as their greatest health threat, and women remain underrepresented in research. “The Woman of Impact campaign brings the mission of Go Red for Women to life in communities across the country,” said Lee A. Shapiro, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association. “Leaders like Phoong drive change by taking actions that help more women live longer, healthier lives.”
As the 2026 National Woman of Impact Winner, Phoong joins a growing network of advocates working to close gaps in awareness, research, and care for women. For more information about the campaign and the Go Red for Women movement, visit GoRedforWomen.org.
