Congratulations to Kelly Naab, who was named the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Buffalo Woman of Impact Winner for 2025. Naab won the local competition by raising funds and increasing awareness to combat heart disease and stroke in women while improving overall well-being in the community.

"It was important for me to participate in Woman of Impact because as a grateful stroke survivor, mom and nurse practitioner, I am passionate about education, awareness and advocacy for heart health and wellness," said Naab. "I am honored to have received this recognition and am excited to continue working alongside the American Heart Association and its Go Red for Women initiative to help ensure all women know their risk factors and have the information they need to live longer, healthier lives."

Naab and her fellow Buffalo area nominees raised $21,000 for the organization.

"Thanks to the efforts of incredible leaders like Kelly and all of our nominees, we’re making strides to ensure all women in Buffalo are seen, heard and counted when it comes to their health," said Shannon Cercone, Buffalo Go Red for Women development director for the American Heart Association. "Together, we have the power to help ensure more women are represented in research, have the information they need for heart health through every stage of life and receive quality and timely care. The power of our community coming together creates better health outcomes for all of us."

Read below for the original story from March 11, 2025 about Kelly's nomination for the competition:

The Co-Medical Director of the Clarence Central School District, Kelly Naab, said she was inspired to help others through her story of surviving multiple strokes as she was named a Buffalo-area nominee for the American Heart Association’s Woman of Impact competition.

“If I can even help one person, it's worth it,” she said.

Naab, a pediatric nurse practitioner, said she suffered from strokes when she was 35 and 40 years old, and later had a surgery to close a hole in her heart. The incidents took place despite a lifetime of athletic activity and Naab not having the typical risk factors for stroke.

“It can happen to anybody at any time,” Naab said. “I'm not the typical face of stroke, but it happened to me, not once but twice.”

As part of the campaign, Naab has organized multiple fundraising and awareness events, where she has shared how she persevered through her health challenges.

“When I look back, I had to push through to get to where I am today,” she said. “I was going to overcome.”

Naab’s work for the District includes consulting on health-related decision making and supporting District events and committees. In addition to her work with the District, Naab is also a Clarence parent. Her son Cooper is a junior at Clarence High School, and son Ryder is an eighth grader at Clarence Middle School. 

Naab’s nomination for the American Heart Association campaign follows last year’s nomination of Clarence High School alumna Madelyn Ferriter.

Donations for Naab’s campaign will be accepted through April 10. Learn more about Naab and the campaign at https://www2.heart.org/site/TR/?team_id=893405&pg=team&fr_id=11898. More information about the warning signs of heart attacks and strokes can be found at https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/heart-attack-and-stroke-symptoms.