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At 18, Alexis McCullough is turning a personal loss into public action: the Eagle Scout and Gold Star family member has launched a fundraising drive for the American Heart Association after her father died of a heart attack while on active duty. Her campaign—part of the AHA’s Teen of Impact program—runs from Feb. 7 through April 9 and aims to back research, prevention and education tied to heart disease and stroke.
From grief to volunteer leadership
McCullough’s father, Col. Mark McCullough, died six years ago at 51. The experience left a lasting mark, she says, but it also galvanized her to act with the support of her community. To kick off the fundraiser, she donated $500 of her own savings.
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Her nomination to the AHA’s nationwide Teen of Impact campaign recognizes students who organize giving and awareness efforts around cardiovascular health. For McCullough, that work builds on a track record of large-scale civic projects.
A record of service and fundraising
As part of her journey to Eagle Scout, McCullough designed and led a major memorial project in Bourbonnais. Working with village officials and the Woody Williams Foundation, she raised more than $120,000 to install a Gold Star Families memorial at Marcotte Park. The monument was dedicated in April 2025 and honors relatives of service members lost in active duty.
She also holds the title of Miss Chicago’s Teen 2026, adding a public-facing platform to her advocacy work.
What the AHA funds — and why it matters
The campaign’s proceeds are earmarked for programs that the AHA says save lives: medical research, community prevention initiatives and public education about cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. Supporting these areas can translate into earlier detection, better treatment and wider access to lifesaving information.
- Campaign window: Feb. 7–April 9
- Lead organizer: Alexis McCullough, 18, Eagle Scout and Gold Star family member
- Personal contribution: $500 from McCullough’s savings to launch the drive
- Prior project: $120,000+ raised for the Woody Williams Foundation Gold Star Families Memorial (dedicated April 2025)
- Organizational note: The American Heart Association is the largest non-governmental funder of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular research, according to its website
McCullough frames the fundraiser as both a tribute to her father and a practical effort to reduce the toll of heart disease. The Teen of Impact program gives students a structured way to raise money and awareness on campus and in their communities, while connecting them to national research and prevention efforts.
For readers seeking more details about the campaign or the AHA’s work, McCullough’s fundraising page is listed at tinyurl.com/4487d8rb. The link directs to the American Heart Association’s site with information on donations and campaign goals.
