With a new semester comes new opportunities for student involvement, and Beat for Good (BG) has demonstrated that. Beat for Good was founded by Villanova sophomore Anthony Garenani and his brother, Cornell junior Michael Garenani, and these two brothers are uniting to provide heartfelt compassion and financial support for those affected by cardiovascular disease. Beat for Good is a perfect fit for the Villanova campus climate, as it closely aligns with the University’s motto of “Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas.” The organization embodies Veritas through meaningful advocacy efforts that use scientifically grounded truth to combat cardiovascular disease. BG exemplifies Unitas through collaboration with the American Heart Association, a national non-profit organization dedicated to fighting heart disease for more than 100 years, and by mobilizing students together in a passion-driven effort to drastically improve the quality of life for students, alumni and the greater community beyond campus. Caritas is at the forefront of BG’s mission at Villanova. It hopes to orient students toward service and connection with communities outside of their own to broaden student perspectives on the larger global community and its struggle with cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, Beat for Good’s motto echoes the iconic Villanovan sentiment: helping hearts beat for good and beating heart disease for good.
The importance of this organization is underscored by the alarming statistic from the World Health Organization, which cites cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death worldwide. This harrowing statistic has directly impacted the Garenani family, inspiring the brothers to establish “Beat for Good” at their respective universities in honor of their father, Dr. Christopher Garenani. “Dr. G,” as he was affectionately known by his patients, tragically passed away from a heart attack in 2008, leaving behind his beloved wife and seven young children. He left a legacy of tremendous love for his neighbors and genuine compassion to the patients he served. Following his sudden death, the children’s mother raised them to be health-conscious and active individuals. Fueled by the same compassion that permeated all in which their father did throughout his 50 years of life, they hope to ignite change and foster healthier lifestyles in others. As the brothers pursue their own pre-medical aspirations, they both seek to raise funds for the American Heart Association and combat the world’s number one killer.
Anthony Garenani is especially excited to kickstart the semester.
“We’re geared up for an unforgettable first semester together and building something truly special on campus,” Garenani said. “I’m extremely grateful for the significant progress we’ve already made and will continue to build on for years to come.”
The organization has made substantial early progress, as it has been featured on the first page of the American Heart Association’s “Raise Your Way” campaign, breaking the top 75 of all fundraisers (see the attached QR code to view the progress for yourself). Potential Beat for Good campus fundraiser campaigns could include, but are certainly not limited to, exercise classes, collaborations with other philanthropic and student interest organizations on campus and merchandise sales. As always, there lies the potential for Beat for Good to form a prosperous and influential connection between Villanova and the American Heart Association, one which could help impact countless lives that struggle with cardiovascular disease.
To sign up and join the fight against heart disease as a member of Beat for Good, refer to the official Instagram page for the Villanova Chapter, @beatforgood_villanova. By clicking the link in the bio, one will be directed to a Google form where they can automatically subscribe to the email list for future updates and alerts about activities. By joining Beat for Good, one will become part of something much larger than any one person. By committing oneself to “fighting the good fight” against the single largest cause of death in the world, we can all further represent the values of “Veritas, Unitas and Caritas” in the highest sense of the words.