Submitted Katie Zook, left, has been named the 2026 Northeast Ohio Teen of Impact winner. Viki Stoops is the 2026 Northeast Ohio Woman of Impact winner.

NORTHEAST OHIO — Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States, but according to the American Heart Association, approximately 80% of heart attacks and strokes are preventable.

Two area individuals have successfully channeled their energy and passion to build a healthier Northeast Ohio and raise critical dollars to help fund the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association, earning them recognition from the organization. Viki Stoops is the 2026 Northeast Ohio Woman of Impact winner. Katie Zook has been named the 2026 Northeast Ohio Teen of Impact winner.

The Woman of Impact and Teen of Impact campaigns launched on National Wear Red Day, Friday, Feb. 6. Collectively, this year’s Northeast Ohio nominees educated people in CPR, held more than two dozen events to share the importance of both mental and physical health and raised more than $78,000 to support the vital work of the American Heart Association.

Stoops is a community liaison for Home Instead NE, a senior in-home care group in Austintown, where she helps families in crisis. Throughout her campaign, Stoops held multiple fundraising and awareness events, including one at a local YMCA where she brought a hands-only CPR experience to the community.

“My ‘why’ for working with the American Heart Association is that I was affected by heart disease on two different sides: My immediate family and then my job,” said Stoops. “I meet families all the time who are affected by heart disease and stroke so I want to bring as much awareness, support and resources to the community as possible and do my part to make things better.”

The 2026 Teen of Impact campaign winner, Zook, is a junior at Niles McKinley High School. Zook also held multiple events throughout her campaign to raise funds and awareness of heart disease and stroke, including a dance competition that encouraged young people to move more for their hearts.

“I was a Teen of Impact because my family has been largely affected by heart attacks and strokes,” said Zook. “My mom’s dad passed away from a heart attack and last year I helped my grandma through the side effects of her second stroke, which caused her to have dementia and go into long-term care.”

Stoops and Zook are two of more than 160 other community-level Women and Teen of Impact winners from across the country now eligible for national recognition.

The national winners from each campaign will be named on May 20.