When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, Tacoma fourth grader Charlotte Littleton will tell you she wants to be president. Her drive and ambition are immediately clear, and they are part of the reason Charlotte was inspired to apply to be an American Heart Association Youth Heart Ambassador. Another motivation is she lost two close family members to heart disease and it’s a loss she feels deeply. “I don’t want anyone else to go through losing a family member to heart disease,” she says.
Charlotte is one of only 15 students nationwide selected to serve as a national ambassador this school year. The Fife Elementary School fifth grader will volunteer to support the Association’s school programs, Wholeheartedly Charlotte: A Young Leader on a Mission the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge, which are designed to inspire youth to build lifelong healthy habits while helping others. It’s an opportunity Charlotte will maximize to the fullest.
To reach her goals, Charlotte has recruited members of her family to work alongside her. Her mom Melissa wants the opportunity to be a family learning experience and agreed to serve as Charlotte’s campaign manager. Twin brother, Christian, is Charlotte’s official videographer. Older brothers Mason and Ryan are serving as her finance director and social media manager, respectively. To document her journey, Charlotte started an Instagram account, @wholeheartedly_with_charlotte, and she will use the platform to post photos and key learnings throughout the year.
Charlotte has set an ambitious goal to raise $18,180 for the American Heart Association. It represents $101 for each day of the school year, in honor of the American Heart Association’s 101st year. In addition to raising funds to support the Association’s work, Charlotte wants to use her voice to increase awareness of healthy lifestyle choices among her peers. She has two Golden Doodle-Shiba Inu puppies, Nico and Niah, who keep her active and she wants to remind other students that being active is good for their hearts. Last school year, Charlotte also learned how to help someone who is experiencing cardiac arrest by using Hands-Only CPR. It’s a skill she feels everyone should know.
Charlotte’s journey is just beginning, but she’s already showing the world what it means to lead wholeheartedly.
American Heart Association
heart.org