Since 1924, the American Heart Association has been fighting heart disease and stroke and helping families and communities thrive. It has grown into the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The mission of the American Heart Association is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. The Association has invested more than $5 billion in research, making us the largest not-for-profit funding source for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease research next to the federal government.