This February, during American Heart Month, we are honored to share a collaboration born from both loss and love.

WomenHeart has joined forces with Stanton & Bowery Hospitality, a national restaurant and entertainment group, to raise awareness for women’s heart health. This collaboration honors the memory of Iga Obrycka, Stanton & Bowery’s General Manager and Chief Marketing Officer, who passed away on January 27, 2025, at just 28 years old from a heart attack caused by mitral valve prolapse. She was talented, creative, outspoken, and endlessly driven. Her colleagues describe her as someone whose leadership and spirit will never be forgotten.

Iga’s story is a powerful reminder that heart disease doesn’t discriminate by age—and why our work matters now more than ever.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Yet too many women don’t know their risk. Heart disease in women is often underdiagnosed, undertreated, and misunderstood. Symptoms can look different in women than in men, and conditions like mitral valve prolapse can go undetected until it’s too late.

Iga was only 28. Her passing is a sobering reminder that heart disease can strike at any age. That’s why awareness and education are so critical. When women understand their heart health, they can advocate for the care they deserve.

Throughout February, Stanton & Bowery venues across the country are supporting WomenHeart’s mission. Their locations in New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Palm Beach, Nashville, and Scottsdale are spreading awareness and raising funds to support women living with or at risk for heart disease.

“During this Heart Month, as WomenHeart raises awareness about heart disease in women, we are grateful to join Stanton and Bowery Hospitality in honoring Iga Obrycka,” said Celina Gorre, CEO of WomenHeart. “This collaboration demonstrates how businesses can make a meaningful impact in the fight against women’s heart disease while honoring the memory of someone they loved.”

For the Stanton & Bowery family, this collaboration is personal. They are channeling their grief into action, ensuring that Iga’s legacy lives on through work that will help other women protect their heart health.

We are deeply moved by their commitment and proud to stand alongside them in this fight.

This American Heart Month, you can make a difference too:

• Learn your risk. Talk to your doctor about your heart health and know the warning signs of heart disease in women—regardless of your age.
• Support WomenHeart. Your donation helps us provide education, peer support, and advocacy for women with heart disease. Donate here.
• Visit a Stanton & Bowery venue. Stop by one of their locations this February to show your support.
• Share Iga’s story. Help us spread awareness by sharing this post with the women in your life.

Together, we can honor Iga Obrycka’s memory and fight for a future where no woman loses her life to heart disease.