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.
