Drummond youngster among top Kids Heart Challenge fund-raisers
MILWAUKEE, WI, July 27, 2026 — It wasn’t long after he learned about what the Kids Heart Challenge entailed that Drummond Elementary School student Phoenix Schiess told his parents he wanted to help the cause.
And boy, did he ever – to the tune of finishing among the state’s top-15 fund-raisers during the 2025-26 school – and earned status as an American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge All-Star.
Phoenix, the son of Jacob and Alicia, Barnes, is entering second grade this fall.
“He came home from school so excited to sign up and be part of the KHC as a first grader (last year),” Alicia Schiess said. “He told us he wanted to help other kids and adults have healthy hearts so they could do all the things they love, just like he gets to.”
Alicia Schiess added that her son did one somersault for every dollar he raised – and with a final total of $2,275.27, that’s a lot of somersaults for a good cause.
For nearly 50 years, the American Heart Association has been working with educators in elementary, middle and high schools across the nation to help educate students about healthy living.
The Kids Heart Challenge is a service learning-based fundraising program that gives students the opportunity to feel good, while doing good. It’s a way for students to better their life — all while changing someone else’s. Students, families and staff also learn valuable life skills, including how to make smart food choices, the importance of avoiding vaping/tobacco and the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR.
Kids Heart Challenge engages elementary school students and their families to learn how to keep their heart, body and brain healthy — while helping kids with special hearts live longer, healthier lives. It’s a fun and meaningful way to teach lifelong habits of health and helping others.
“We’re so thankful for the efforts of all our Kids Heart Challenge participants and volunteers every year,” American Heart Association Region Vice President, Development, School Engagement Lisa Hoffman said. “Their passion, their excitement and their willingness to continuously drive our mission forward is just so inspiring. We obviously couldn’t do it without all of them.”
Funds raised through the KHC allow students to support community wellness and to be part of the solution by funding research on a path to improving cardiovascular health for all.
According to the American Heart Association:
- Approximately 1 in 3 children have an unhealthy weight, with 20% being obese.
- Only about 25% of youth ages 6-11 and 13% of youth ages 12 to 17 get the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
- About 28% of high school students report ever using any tobacco product, with 12.6% being active users.
- More than 23,000 children experience cardiac arrest outside of the hospital each year; 40% of those are related to sports; nearly 20% are infants.
- Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect, affecting nearly 40,000 babies each year, or about 1 in 100 births.
For more information about the Kids Heart Challenge, visit www.heart.org/getstarted.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries:
Staff Contact; Dan Truttschel, dan.truttschel@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
