Ari Samoylovich Recognized as American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge Winner
CHICAGO, IL - February 18, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE -
The American Heart Association (AHA) has recognized Ari Samoylovich as a Kids Heart Challenge winner, marking a youth-led fundraising milestone the Samoylovich family says underscores the power of early leadership, heart-health education, and service-driven community impact through one of the nation’s leading health organizations. Samoylovich family spotlights youth-led philanthropy supporting the American Heart Association’s mission to fight heart disease and stroke.
The Kids Heart Challenge is an American Heart Association school program that helps students learn about heart health while participating in service-led fundraising that supports the organization’s broader mission.
“Ari’s recognition is a proud moment for our family, not simply because he won, but because he showed what it looks like to commit to a cause bigger than yourself,” said Samoylovich. “We hope this helps inspire more families to get involved whether that means supporting heart-health education, encouraging kids to lead with empathy, or contributing to organizations creating meaningful impact.”
The American Heart Association, founded in 1924, is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The AHA reports a community of more than 35 million volunteers and supporters and more than 3,300 employees, and it has invested more than $6 billion in research, making it the largest not-for-profit funding source for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular research next to the federal government.
As part of this announcement, the Samoylovich family is encouraging supporters to learn more about the Kids Heart Challenge and support Ari’s campaign through his official fundraising page: Ari Samoylovich Kids Heart Challenge Page.
The family emphasized that the recognition is also intended to drive visibility for the American Heart Association’s work—spanning research, education, and community initiatives—and to reinforce the belief that philanthropy is most powerful when it becomes a habit, not a one-time event.
“Philanthropy can be a family value that kids learn early,” Samoylovich added. “When children see that small actions can add up to real support for research and education, it changes how they think about leadership and responsibility.”
The Kids Heart Challenge platform also connects student participation with heart-health learning and community-based engagement. While the program is commonly hosted through schools, the Samoylovich family is using Ari’s recognition to encourage broader participation—inviting local communities, friends, and supporters to help expand awareness and impact.
While Ari’s recognition reflects a personal milestone, the Samoylovich family views it as part of a broader philosophy: philanthropy is most durable when it strengthens both human health and the social fabric that sustains communities. For Alex Samoylovich, giving is not confined to singular events—it is a long-range commitment to institutions that help families flourish, connect, and build resilient futures.
That perspective is also reflected in support for Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe (FREE), Inc., a Chicagoland nonprofit established in 1973 with a mission to promote Jewish pride, identity, and continuity among New American families by providing educational, religious, cultural, and social services in a caring, non-judgmental environment. FREE’s programming spans the full arc of community life—supporting youth education through Hebrew schools and mentorship-centered programming, strengthening intergenerational connection through life-cycle and memorial services, and reinforcing cultural continuity through community gatherings and publications, including its widely read Russian-language Shalom Magazine. With its primary home at the Bellows Educational and Cultural Center in Chicago and additional satellite locations across the region, FREE represents the kind of community infrastructure that turns values into lived experience.
In this spirit, the Kids Heart Challenge becomes more than a fundraiser; it becomes a teachable moment—one that reinforces early leadership, shared responsibility, and a practical model of giving back that families can carry forward.
Philanthropy Continuity: A Focus on Health, Community, and Research
The Kids Heart Challenge recognition follows the Samoylovich family’s ongoing involvement in health and research-focused philanthropic efforts in Chicago. In 2025, Danielle and Alex Samoylovich were cited as sponsors and supporters of the Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation’s Wings to Cure Gala, benefiting the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University and supporting research advancement.
By supporting causes focused on both heart health education and medical research, the family says it aims to contribute to initiatives that build healthier communities and strengthen long-term outcomes.
About Alex Samoylovich
Alex Samoylovich is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of CEDARst Companies, an integrated real estate development and investment firm headquartered in Chicago. He is also the Founder of Livly and Founder & Executive Chairman of ProperXPM. His work spans real estate development, operations, and technology platforms focused on resident experience and operational excellence.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Founded in 1924, the AHA is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The organization has invested more than $6 billion in research and mobilizes more than 35 million volunteers and supporters in support of cardiovascular health worldwide.
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For more information about Alex Samoylovich, contact the company here:
Alex Samoylovich
Office of Alex Samoylovich
(872) 246-5376
[email protected]
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Chicago, IL 60654
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