School Health Corporation Partners with Hopey’s Heart Foundation to Help Save Lives with AED Devices

HANOVER PARK, IL (June 3, 2015) – On May 1st 2015, the School Health Corporation entered into a partnership with the Hopey’s Heart Foundation to provide lifesaving AEDs that benefit schools, community centers, and student athletes. This partnership will allow Hopey’s Heart to purchase AED kits – including manuals, posters and instruction cards – that provide a complete AED solution for those receiving the kit. Recipients will also have access to the in-house Calibration, Parts & Repair department at School Health.

The Hopey’s Heart Foundation was formed by WNBA star and Olympian Tina Charles. Charles founded Hopey’s Heart in memory of her aunt, Maureen “Hopey” Vaz, who died in 2013 as a result of multiple organ failure. In addition to fundraising efforts like the Rebounding Initiative, which allows contributors to pledge gift amounts for every rebound made, Charles has donated half of her 2015-2016 salary WNBA salary to the foundation.

The foundation provides health education and lifesaving automatic external defibrillators (AED) in schools, and community centers. Since formed, the foundation has placed 142 AEDs.

These placements have occurred through an AED Grant Program that supplies eligible schools or centers with life-saving AED equipment. The program awards AEDs quarterly, and participants must complete a 500-word application and agree to the program terms and policies. More information can be found at www.hopeysheart.org/aed-grant-program/.

“The more AEDs we place, the better chance we have to help save lives,” said Charles. “The best joy of humility comes from putting the needs of others over yourself. I’m pleased that we are able to partner with School Health in working to combat sudden cardiac arrest.”

“School Health has a long standing commitment of serving schools and supporting the health and well-being of students and teachers,” said Rob Rogers, President of School Health Corporation. “This partnership gives us a chance to join the Hopey’s Heart Foundation in making a positive and lasting contribution to the community.”

About Hopey’s Heart

The Hopey’s Heart Foundation was founded to prevent sudden cardiac arrest from claiming the lives of promising student athletes. It is committed to providing AEDs nationally for the prevention of heart and other injuries in student and amateur athletes through the provision of health education and medical equipment in schools, community and recreational centers. The Hopey’s Heart Foundation is dedicated to improving sports safety and raising awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest throughout the country.

About School Health

School Health is a national, full-service provider of health supplies and services. We serve health professionals in educational settings from pre-school to college. By collaborating with customers we advocate for the health and wellness of those entrusted in their care. Since our founding in 1957, we have been committed to supporting the health — physically, mentally and emotionally—of students so that all can learn and perform to the best of their abilities. For more information visit schoolhealth.com or call 888-323-5645.