Heart Association honors Canfield school official

YOUNGSTOWN

The American Heart Association presented Alex Geordan, Canfield Local Schools superintendent, with its Great Rivers Affiliate 2017 Distinguished Achievement Award.

Geordan, who became a volunteer and member of the organization’s Youngstown board after losing a loved one to heart disease, received the honor for using his story to encourage superintendents and school districts in the tri-county area to get more involved with the AHA.

“There are 74 schools in 38 districts across the tri-county area that participate in our school-site programs, and Canfield schools have a long-standing relationship with the American Heart Association,” said Tracy Behnke, AHA youth market director. “This year, Mr. Geordan took it to a new level, hosting a superintendent’s breakfast in the summer of 2016 for those in his own county and the three surrounding counties.”

As a result, several newly engaged schools in the area completed events this year and raised almost $172,000.

Canfield schools almost doubled their donation to nearly $40,000 after Geordan led a Red Out home football game and an elementary school Jump Rope for Heart program.