Local teen earns national award for fundraising, advocacy
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DALLAS (WJHL) — A Tri-Cities teenager has earned a national award for her fundraising and advocacy for heart health.
The American Heart Association named Aniston Barnette of Bristol, Tennessee its National Teen of Impact Award winner. She was one of 142 nominees from across the country and was named the Tri-Cities 2024 Teen of Impact winner in April.
The 16-year-old student-athlete raised $65,000 for the association and has helped educate community members in CPR. She held a fashion show and pickleball tournament as part of her campaign.
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“Embracing this opportunity was a natural choice,” Barnette said in a release. “As a student-athlete, the jarring statistic that cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death for student-athletes compelled me to get involved with Teen of Impact[. Raising critical funds for research and education and leading Hands-Only CPR activities in my community was incredible. But there is more work to be done.”
According to the American Heart Association, Barnette and dozens of other volunteers will meet with members of Congress on May 23 to advocate for increased access and funding for CPR education, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and cardiac emergency response plans in schools.
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