Paul Hlivko
The future of giving: How a crypto donation is powering heart health in Iowa
When Paul Hlivko, a supporter of the American Heart Association, made his latest donation, he didn’t reach for his checkbook. Instead, he opened his crypto wallet, embracing a new era of giving.
Hlivko’s contribution marked a major milestone; it was the first cryptocurrency donation to the Association’s Des Moines market and largest crypto gift since the American Heart Association launched that option. This demonstrates how even in philanthropy, innovation can create new ways to give and build healthier communities.
“For me, technology has always been about solving real problems,” said Hlivko, executive vice president and chief information and digital officer at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “Crypto is simply another tool. One that lets me scale impact for a cause I deeply believe in.”
Hlivko’s gift is helping fund nutrition security programs in Central Iowa, strengthening the infrastructure that ensures families have lasting access to healthy food.
“Access matters, but infrastructure is what creates sustainable change,” he explained. “It’s like software, you have to build it to last.”
That mindset reflects both his work in technology and his personal connection to the mission. Raised in Ohio, Hlivko lost both grandfathers to heart disease before he was able to meet them. Then in 2017, he discovered his own heart condition — an ascending aortic aneurysm — through early diagnosis.
“Access to care made all the difference,” he said. “That experience made the mission personal.”
When the cryptocurrency market surged, Hlivko saw a new way to give back. A longtime investor, he decided to donate digital assets directly through the American Heart Association’s online donation platform, completing the entire process in under a minute.
“It was flawless,” he said.
For Hlivko, giving through crypto wasn’t just convenient, it tapped into his drive to use technology for good.
“A lot of people in the crypto space are passionate about innovation,” he said. “I think there’s a huge opportunity to connect that passionate group to causes that matter.”
As Chair for the 2026 Heart Ball in Des Moines, Hlivko hopes sharing his experience will convince others to explore new ways to give.
“The internet leveled access to information. AI will level access to expertise,” he said. “The more we use technology to advance science and health, the better off we’ll all be.”
Hlivko’s crypto gift is more than a donation, it’s a signal of what’s next. A future where generosity moves as fast as innovation and where technology helps build stronger, healthier communities for everyone.
Interested in learning more about giving through cryptocurrency? Visit heart.org/crypto to see how digital assets can help fuel lifesaving research and community health programs.