Long-Time Partner, Lasting Impact: Mortenson and the American Heart Association
Article Key Takeaways
- People-first impact: The Heart Walk is driven by personal stories, with many participants walking for loved ones affected by heart conditions or cardiac events.
- Community at scale: Team Mortenson participation has grown to approximately 250 walkers in the Twin Cities, in addition to participants in Phoenix, Portland, Omaha, Nashville, and Seattle in recent years.
- Meaningful contributions: The team has raised nearly $70,000 this year and, in total, more than $500,000 in recent years in support of the American Heart Association.
- Extended impact: Team members deepened their impact through initiatives like the “Hard Hats with Hearts” challenge, which encourage healthier habits alongside fundraising.
- Culture in action: Participation reflects how Mortenson supports causes that matter to its team members and turns individual passion into collective impact.
Mortenson has participated in American Heart Association Heart Walks for more than a decade, with team members in Phoenix, Portland, Omaha, Nashville, and Minneapolis fundraising to support the mission of fighting heart disease. In 2026, our Minneapolis team brought together approximately 250 employees, family members, customers, trade partners, and design partners for the Twin Cities Heart Walk. Together, the team raised nearly $70,000, contributing to a total of more than $500,000 raised in recent years to support heart health research, education, and advocacy efforts.
For many team members, this is deeply personal. Beyond raising funds for an important cause, the Heart Walk demonstrates the power of community support. Shortly after he was born, the child of one of our team members was diagnosed with a severe heart condition. After finding community through the American Heart Association and Mortenson, Avin Kallenbach has championed Mortenson’s participation in the Twin Cities Heart Walk since 2018. As Avin said, “For our team, it’s not about the distance. It’s about showing up.”
In addition to participating in Heart and Stroke Walks and fundraisers, Mortenson jobsites have hosted American Heart Association health education programs and challenges designed to decrease the risk of heart disease and encourage healthy habits.
In Seattle, team members have taken their commitment to combating heart disease beyond fundraising through the “Hard Hats with Hearts” challenge across multiple project sites. Their participation in the Eat Smart Challenge and Blood Pressure Challenge educates participants and provides tools to support positive lifestyle changes, including healthier eating and increased physical activity. The team also held a waffle bake fundraiser to support the Puget Sound Heart and Stroke Walk.
Through fundraising, education, and shared commitment, Mortenson team members continue to advance heart health while showing what it means to build stronger, healthier communities together.