Healthcare Foundation of La Porte Hosts 2022 When Seconds Count AED Celebration
Updated: Jul 6, 2023
On Friday, December 9, 2022, Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) held its 2022 AED Celebration at the HFL Conference & Learning Center. Each year, HFL provides grants for automated external defibrillators (AEDs) as part of its When Seconds Count: AED Initiative. These annual grants help ensure the La Porte County community has access to these life-saving devices. HFL works in conjunction with La Porte County EMS, through the AED Collective, to provide a safe, manageable, and efficient program in our community to help people who are suffering a serious heart event have the best chance at survival. When Seconds Count: AED Initiative, along with support from the AED Collective, also works to educate the community on the importance of routine AED maintenance, AED registration, and CPR training.
This year, through HFL’s When Seconds Count: AED Initiative, HFL awarded 36 AEDs, 33 cabinets, and signage to 21 grantees. The amount awarded totaled $71,215.
Hosted by HFL, the AED Celebration welcomed the 2022 AED grantees to the HFL Conference & Learning Center to receive their AED grant awards, watch a live demonstration of AED usage and readiness checks, hear from Eric Fenstermaker, administrative assistant of La Porte County EMS, and connect with other AED grantees. Guests also heard from HFL Board Member Dr. Gary Wheeland on the importance of AEDs and from La Porte Fire Chief Andy Snyder on CPR / AED classes the City of La Porte Fire Department offers free of charge to the community, thanks in part to grants from HFL.
HFL’s When Seconds Count: AED Initiative provides La Porte County nonprofit organizations and governmental entities with life-saving AED devices. Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States. Defibrillation from an AED is effective in helping people survive sudden cardiac arrest. AEDs save lives.
Learn more about the AED Collective and HFL’s When Seconds Count: AED Initiative.
Since 2017, HFL has awarded 137 AEDs to the community. The total amount awarded to date in AEDs and CPR-related grants is $332,661.
2022 AED Recipients
American Legion Post 83
City of La Porte Park and Recreation Department
City of La Porte Water Department
Friendship Botanic Gardens
Goodwill Industries of Michiana, Inc.
Holy Family Parish
The House of Praise Prophetic Church
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church
Knights of Columbus, St. Michael Council #1542
La Porte County Sheriff’s Office
La Porte Municipal Airport
Notre Dame Catholic School
Porter-Starke Services
Queen of All Saints Church
Reins of Life
Renaissance Academy
St. Joseph Young Men’s Society
St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish
Sauktown Church of Christ
Stepping Stone Shelter for Women
Westville Community Volunteer Fire Department
HFL accepts grant requests for the When Seconds Count: AED Initiative once per year. Grant requests may be submitted February 14 through March 31 of each year. To be eligible, applicants must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization or a governmental entity. Requests for AED grants are only accepted through HFL's grant portal.
HFL’s mission is empowering La Porte County residents to live healthy and well. Since 2017, HFL has invested more than $36 million in the La Porte County community.