Three local executives to lead 2026 Heart Walk and area-wide push for CPR readiness
Palm Beach County, Fla., Aug. 7, 2026 — According to the American Heart Association, 9 in 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital die, and more than half don’t receive bystander CPR. CPR — especially if performed immediately — can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. In a collective effort led by Chief People Officer Megan Filoon, Chief Revenue Officer Bill Schafer, and Chief Financial Officer Marilyn Spunar of TBC Corporation, they are supporting the American Heart Association’s mission to be a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere by serving as the 2026 Palm Beach Heart Walk chairs.
TBC has been supporting the Heart Association since 2016, and now, as Heart Walk chairs, Filoon, Schafer and Spunar will lead a year-round effort to rally companies and community members to raise critical funds for heart and brain health and expand CPR education.
Through the Heart Walk, the American Heart Association encourages employee well-being by asking companies to form Heart Walk teams and to get active together. “Heart Walk reminds us that prioritizing healthy employees isn’t optional – it’s essential,” Filoon said. “When people feel 100%, when they feel supported by their employer and connected to their coworkers, then they show up stronger at work and in life.”
Heart Walk is the largest community-facing initiative of the American Heart Association. Through fundraising, community education and corporate engagement, Heart Walk aims to fund vital research, drive equitable health for all and make CPR education and training more accessible.
“We are all “the first responders” until help arrives,” Schafer said. “There is still this idea that CPR is something only trained medical professionals do. But it’s not: it’s something anyone can do, and knowing CPR means anyone can be a lifesaver.”
For Spunar, Heart Walk is deeply personal due to a history of heart disease in her family. “Having a personal connection to something makes it real,” she said. “It’s no longer an abstract thing happening to someone else. And that makes you want to take action – and to encourage other survivors to do the same. That’s how real change happens.”
“Having not just one but three members of our business community commit to making our area safer, stronger and healthier is truly exciting,” said Stacey Comerford, executive director for the Heart Association - Palm Beach County. “We’re looking forward to seeing incredible results from this year’s Heart Walk campaign and hope the community will join us in making it a success.”
The Heart Association is a global leader in resuscitation science, education and training, and the official publisher of CPR guidelines. Through the Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, the Association is working to ensure that more people are ready to perform CPR and be a vital link in the chain of survival, supporting its goal of doubling the survival rate from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by 2030.
The Palm Beach County Heart Walk will take place this year on Saturday, November 14, at the Meyer Amphitheater in West Palm Beach. An estimated 8,000 participants are expected to walk in celebration of local survivors and the lifesaving progress made across the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast. The Heart Walk is open to the general public and company teams. Companies interested in participating may contact local Heart Walk Director Jessie Brooks at jessie.brooks@heart.org. Learn more and register at http://www.palmbeachheartwalk.org.
# # #
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:
Gina Sbrilli | Gina.sbrilli@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
