Bank executive funding lifesaving research and supporting community health

Rick Arthur named American Heart Association Charleston Leaders of Impact™ Winner

Rick Arthur, executive vice president of consumer and small business banking for Pinnacle Financial Partners, has been named the American Heart Association Charleston 2025 Leaders of Impact™ Winner for his work supporting the Heart Association’s mission of creating a world of longer, healthier lives for all.

“Rick Arthur and all of our Leaders of Impact nominees have done incredible work over seven weeks in the fight for a healthier Lowcountry,” said Katie Schumacher, American Heart Association executive director, Charleston. “They have raised funds to support pioneering research that changes lives, spread awareness about the importance of Hands-Only CPR and advocated for health for everyone, everywhere. Their efforts, alongside those of the other nominees across the U.S., support the American Heart Association’s work to save the lives of the people we love within our community and around the world.”

In the fight against heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.,[1] the American Heart Association trains and certifies millions in CPR, equipping everyday people with the skills to save lives. Through relationships with food banks and community organizations, the Heart Association connects people with healthy food to improve the health of families at home. Research funded through the Heart Association has helped countless people survive heart disease and stroke, while supporting the next generation of scientific talent.

None of this would be possible without the amazing work of volunteers like the Leaders of Impact, who raised $41,205 in Charleston over the course of seven weeks.

“Taking part in Leaders of Impact was important for me because I care deeply about the mission of the American Heart Association and about the community where my family and I live,” said Arthur. “We are working to ensure everyone everywhere in our community has the opportunity to live a long, healthy life, full of special times with their loved ones.”

For more than 100 years, the American Heart Association has driven change by supporting health and access to health care for all, investing in groundbreaking research, educating health care professionals and patients and advocating for healthy policies. In the Lowcountry, the Heart Association is specifically focused on CPR education and controlling blood pressure.

Leaders of Impact launched in the fall in hundreds of cities across the nation and culminated in November. Each nominee’s participation was focused on opportunities to be a changemaker with a shared purpose to raise critical awareness and fund the mission of the American Heart Association.

Other local nominees included:

• Dita Brown, Vice President, Commercial Banker, Beacon Community Bank
• Maryanne Burkholder

For more information about Leaders of Impact and a list of all the 2025 nominees, please visit leadersofimpact.heart.org. For more information on local American Heart Association events, visit www.heart.org/SouthCarolina

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.