For the past four years, CGI has been partnering with the American Heart Association (AHA) to raise funds and awareness in the fight against heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular illnesses. Throughout the course of each year, CGI organizes and sponsors a wide range of activities on behalf of the AHA, one of which is its annual Heart Walk Campaign.

As part of the Heart Walk Campaign, CGI members commit to walking and/or raising funds for a three-month period by registering on an AHA website. Various challenges are organized for the walkers, such as top walker and top fundraiser, with prizes awarded to the winners.

CGI’s 2012 Heart Walk Campaign kicked off on August 25 in Fairfax, Virginia, the location of our U.S. headquarters, with a Health and Fitness Expo. The Expo offered local CGI members health screenings (e.g., blood pressure, stress, cholesterol), heart attack and stroke symptoms information, access to a licensed nutritionist, and the advice of numerous health professionals.

Over the next three months, nearly 200 CGI members across the U.S. collectively walked millions of miles and raised more than $20,000 for the AHA. CGI member Evelyn Bowe earned the honor of top walker, walking 1,113,557 steps in three months—the equivalent of 556.8 miles.

As part of the campaign, 40 CGI members also participated in the AHA’s 2012 Greater Washington Heart Walk in Washington, DC on November 10.

”Our CGI teams have truly taken to heart the AHA’s mission of decreasing the impact of heart disease and stroke on our nation,” said Cheryl Campbell, senior vice president for CGI Federal’s Health and Compliance Programs business unit and executive sponsor of CGI’s partnership with the AHA.  “This past spring, I had the honor of witnessing an open heart surgery at iNOVA hospital through another one of our programs with the AHA. It was an incredible and eye opening experience that only reienforced the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and encouraging others to do the same. I am proud that CGI partners with organizations such as the AHA and through that partnership has the power to positively affect the health of our members and their loved ones.”