She gets it.
She believes in faith and hope and love and she believes in herself, and she appreciates duty, details, kindness, passion, and compassion for the most vulnerable.
So, that’s why Crissy Clutter (Kanngiesser) lives her life the way she lives her life.
She helps. She steps up. She rushes to assist others when there’s been a fire or a flood or some other kind of traumatic disaster because Clutter has been impacted herself and she’s reported on tragedy during her 20 years as a journalist in Pittsburgh, Charleston, and right here in her own backyard.
Heart disease is no different so that’s why Crissy is taking full advantage of the American Heart Association’s annual Women of Impact Campaign. While she’s been a “team member” for past participants, this year she’s teamed up with former TV broadcaster Laurie Conway-May to raise funds while spreading as much awareness in a plethora of different ways.
Wine tastings. Shooting free throws. A 50/50 raffle. A basket raffle. Dine to Donate events. March Madness brackets. Facebook live videos. And who knows what she’ll come up with next?
That’s because, to her anyway, it’s about reaching as many people as possible. It’s about the message. It’s about your heart health and her heart for her community.
Because she gets it.
Besides raising funds, what are you trying to achieve by participating in the annual Women of Impact campaign?
Women’s health—especially heart health—is something we tend to push aside. Life gets busy, and a lot of us put our families, our jobs, and everything else first. I know I’ve done it more times than I can count.
But the truth is, if we’re not taking care of ourselves, it catches up to us—and we can’t be there the way we want to for the people who depend on us. That’s why this matters to me. It’s not just about raising awareness; it’s about reminding women that their health is important too.
And it’s about recognizing the strong women in our community who show up, give back, and keep going even when it’s hard. We need more of that. More support, more recognition, and more reminders that women can take care of themselves and still be everything they want to be.
What’s your main message?
My message is simple: take care of you. Get your wellness checkups. Listen to your body. If something feels off, don’t ignore it—there’s usually a reason. Those appointments matter more than we like to admit.
When I was nominated for this campaign, I scheduled a checkup—and honestly, things weren’t perfect. I’m still going through that process and getting everything looked at, but as far as I know, all is good. And it was such an important reminder that we can’t assume everything is fine—we have to check.
This is about more than just heart health (though that matters so much). It’s also about showing up for your community, being there for others, and setting an example. Taking care of yourself and lifting others up can go hand in hand—and both matters more than we think.
How receptive are local folks to being proactive with their heart health?
One of the best parts of this campaign has been the people we’ve met along the way. Everyone I’ve spoken with has been so receptive to the message.
My teammate, Laurie Conway-May, and I have had the chance to speak at the Rotary Club, the Soroptimist Club, and other groups throughout the Ohio Valley. It’s been really encouraging to see how many people genuinely want to learn, listen, and support this cause. Some were even surprised by the statistics, which just shows how important it is to keep having these conversations.
I truly think people here appreciate when someone is trying to do something good for the community—and that’s what this is all about.
Heart health is important to everyone, so how are you reaching men with your message?
Even though this campaign focuses on women, this message really is for everyone. Men’s health matters just as much, and as we’ve been going around to different groups and businesses, one thing has been clear: this isn’t a message for just one group of people. It’s for all of us—get your checkup, pay attention to your health, and don’t ignore the signs.
Heart health hits close to home for me. My brother and my late grandfather, Tony, have both dealt with heart issues, and it’s scary. It’s a reminder that this can affect anyone, at any time. Taking care of yourself isn’t something to put off. It matters—for you and for the people who love you.
Why do you like to help others so much?
I’ve always loved helping people. It just means something to me to know others are taken care of. Whether it’s a house fire, a family in need around the holidays, or anything in between—I try to step up because that’s what I would hope someone would do for me.
I really believe you’re only as strong as the community you come from, and I want ours to thrive. I’m from Wheeling, and that’s one of the best things about this town—we show up for each other. And I’ve seen that firsthand through this campaign.
Local businesses and my teammates have really shown up in such a big way, and it’s a perfect example of what our community is all about—people coming together, supporting one another, and doing good where it matters most.
