Teaming up for the Tampa Bay Heart Walk

A heartfelt collaboration

Since 2010, Raymond James and our associates have been supporting the American Heart Association by participating in major fundraising events like Go Red for Women, Cycle Nation, Heart Ball and Heart Walk.

For an entire century, volunteers, supporters and partnering organizations like Raymond James have contributed to helping people build longer, healthier lives. Progress has been made, and the achievements so far are impressive, but there’s still more to accomplish.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the world’s leading cause of death. In 2021, heart disease and stroke in the United States alone resulted in more fatalities than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory diseases combined. 

Whether it’s a colleague, friend or family member, heart health touches all of our lives in some way.

Joe’s story

In 2019, Joe Weaver, President of Raymond James Trust, faced a life-altering moment when he had to undergo a procedure to place three stents in his left anterior descending (LAD) artery due to severe blockages following a “widow-maker” heart attack.

For someone who had always been athletic and prioritized their health, this experience came as a shock to Joe and those closest to him. Joe said, “After swimming one morning I got out of the pool and didn’t feel right. When I got home, my wife called our neighbor to check on me. Shortly after, he drove me to the ER. The cardiologist said that getting to the hospital quickly saved my life. I was fortunate to have a lot of people around me that day.”

Since then, he has been on a relentless journey to maintain his heart health – from diligently monitoring his numbers and eating heart-healthy foods to continuing to exercise regularly.

This year, Joe has stepped into a new role as the executive member of the Tampa Bay Heart Walk Cabinet for the American Heart Association – a role that fills him with a sense of both honor and excitement. 

“Raymond James does important work in helping raise awareness in the community of heart disease, including how to manage it and how to react to witnessing symptoms of a heart event. Over the years, we’ve seen numerous associates dedicate themselves to the cause, and it’s truly inspiring to witness even more people getting involved,” says Joe.

100 years strong

Nina Morgan, executive director of the Tampa Bay American Heart Association, said, “Being born with a congenital heart defect, I have a deeply personal connection to the American Heart Association. Every day, I hear numerous stories about how our work positively impacts lives. It’s truly inspiring to be part of a cause that garners so much selfless support from people – including countless leaders and associates at Raymond James.”

Nina added, “Corporate support and fundraising from Raymond James helps to open the eyes of other community partners both locally and nationally. Truly, it’s our dream to work with a company with a reputation of engaging senior executives, activating associates, providing educational workplace wellness programs and leveraging community impact to raise awareness of a variety of causes throughout the year.”

While the American Heart Association has a long and proud history of impact, from becoming a trusted resource for healthy eating in 1960s and ‘70s to pioneering physical fitness education in the 1990s and early 2000s, barriers to heart health remain.

“When asking ourselves how we can make greater progress, we recognize two major challenges in front of us,” said Nina. “One is the inequities and barriers that exist, inhibiting certain demographics of our society from living healthy lives. Eighty percent of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented, but diets, home environments and healthcare access impact an individual’s heart health. The second challenge we’ve identified is helping those who can adopt healthy lifestyle choices to make decisions that promote long-term cardiovascular health.

What’s next? 

By 2030, the American Heart Association aims to double the out-of-hospital cardiac survival rate. The Nation of Life Savers Initiative is designed to ensure that at least one member of every household is equipped to perform life-saving CPR and start the Chain of Survival for someone experiencing cardiac arrest.

Nina said, “Half of the Chain of Survival is reliant on the public. If those out in the community know how to help, they’re actively helping to save a life. The American Heart Association is focused on raising awareness, resources and confidence from the grassroots to local and state government levels to meet our target at the end of the decade.”

“Having donors like Raymond James alongside us fuels the work and makes a difference. We’re so grateful for the trust in our partnership.”

Our nationwide support

In 2024, more than 680 Raymond James associates, advisors, family members and friends across 10 U.S. cities raised more than $360,000 for the American Heart Association through Heart Walk and Cycle Nation. Since 2010, associates have raised more than $3.8 million.

Raymond James Cares

Together, we make a difference to build, strengthen and grow our communities. To learn more about the firm’s corporate philanthropy, click here.

To see how associates give back all year long, follow Raymond James on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.