Rubschlager family donates $2 million to AHA research

Paul and Joan Rubschlager, owners of Rubschlager Baking in Chicago, have donated $2 million to their family precision promise fund, which will support initiatives spearheaded by the American Heart Association (AHA).

The AHA Institute for Precision Cardiovascular Medicine is designed to target more effective treatment and prevention strategies for heart disease through studies that examine genetics, environments and lifestyle, according to an AHA press release.

The funding will offer research grants to the institute that will allow researchers and clinicians to access and study personal health information.

“The American Heart Association is so grateful for Paul and Joan’s support and leadership over the years. They are inspiring community leaders who understand the importance of research and the need to positively impact America’s No. 1 health threat—cardiovascular disease,” said Kevin Harker, executive vice president of the AHA’s Midwest Affiliate, in a statement. “We are eager to see the lifesaving impact from the precision medicine initiative on the treatment and prevention of heart disease and stroke.”

This isn’t the first donation the Rubschlagers have made. In 2014, they donated $1 million at the Chicago Heart Ball and were honored with the Heart of Gold Award.

“We hear about precision medicine at other medical research groups with which we are involved,” the Rubschlagers said in a statement. “Without a doubt, precision medicine is the foundation for future successful medical treatment. Treatment can be targeted to a specific condition for a specific individual, thus removing the need to experiment with treatments that may or may not succeed. We believe that this gift will allow AHA to get a running start with their precision medicine program.”