SAN ANGELO, Texas, Dec. 1, 2023 – Mattie SanJuan, a San Angelo native with a curiosity around all things “heart,” will serve as the community volunteer chairperson of the 2023-2024 San Angelo area Go Red for Women® movement. The year-long effort to raise funds and awareness for women’s heart health will culminate in the San Angelo Go Red for Women Luncheon, Feb. 15, 2024, at the McNease Convention Center.

SanJuan and her planning committee hope the luncheon will draw 350 people and raise $110,000.

SanJuan is director of logistics and sales and operations planning for Principal Industries, which provides electrical components, services and software to the signage and architectural lighting industry. She is also serving as Go Red for Women chairperson as she wraps up her master’s degree in business administration at Angelo State University. She attended Texas Tech University and Angelo State, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology. She and her husband, Fred, have been married since 2016, and have a daughter, Wesley, and son, Wyatt.

As a girl, SanJuan learned quickly how fragile life – and the heart – can be. Her father experienced chest pains and passed out on a couple occasions before seeking medical attention that resulted in an unexpected triple bypass surgery in 2003. SanJuan was just a fourth grader.

“He was a runner, ate well, worked full time, and felt ‘great’,” SanJuan recalls of her father. He sought a check-up for what he felt were minor symptoms at the time, she said. “But he had a blockage, which would have resulted in a massive cardiac event.”

“This memory has been engrained in my mind since it happened and spurred my own fascinations not only with health and wellness, ultimately leading to my kinesiology degree, but by also educating myself about genetics and simply some of the things in your DNA that cannot be avoided with eating well and exercising,” SanJuan said. “However, knowing what you carry in your genetics, being proactive about your healthcare and educating yourself on these things can still put you ahead and ultimately keep you out of the hospital.”

Though her father has always been her “why” when advocating for heart health, her own family is motivation, as well. “I want them to see that not only taking care of yourself is necessary, but by helping educate others, they could potentially save someone’s life, and that is something we should all strive for,” she said.

Go Red for Women is an initiative of the American Heart Association, devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women locally, nationally and globally.

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States, claiming more lives each year than all forms of cancer combined. Heart disease and stroke continue to be San Angelo women’s greatest health threat.

Go Red for Women is nationally sponsored by CVS Health and the San Angelo Go Red for Women Luncheon is locally sponsored by Ethican. For more information visit heart.org/sanangelogored

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About Go Red for Women® 

The American Heart Association’s signature initiative, Go Red for Women®, is a comprehensive platform designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally. While the majority of cardiac events can be prevented, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, claiming the lives of 1 in 3 women. For 19 years, Go Red for Women has encouraged awareness. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and power of women to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. It challenges them to know their risk for heart disease and take action to reduce their personal risk. It also gives them tools they need to lead a heart healthy life. The Go Red for Women movement is nationally sponsored by CVS Health, with additional support from national cause supporters. For more information, please visit GoRedforWomen.org or call 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721). 

  About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health, and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. 

For Media Inquiries

Cyd King: M 479.263.8473; cyd.king@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org