Foundations are working to provide AEDs and more for sideline safety. Here’s how to help
The story was originally published in The Courier Journal with support from our 2022 Data Fellowship.
When Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on Jan. 2 during a game in Cincinnati, it brought the reality of sudden cardiac arrest into the homes of 24 million people watching and millions more in the weeks that followed.
The automated external defibrillator (AED) industry refers to the increased awareness and demand for AEDs as "The Damar Effect." An AED was used to help save Hamlin's life, and the exposure has led to a backlog of orders for the devices.
It has also impacted foundations run by families who have lost athletes to sudden cardiac arrest. Those that raise money in order to donate AEDs have been inundated with requests ― so much so that monetary donations to the foundations can't keep up.
About 90% of sudden athlete deaths stems from one of four causes, known as the 4Hs: heart (sudden cardiac arrest); head (traumatic brain injury); heat (heat stroke); and hemoglobin (sickle cell trait).
Here is a comprehensive list of foundations that focus on athlete deaths and the 4 Hs:
Alabama
Alabama LifeStart - Official website
Cause: Places AEDs in schools and helps them become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Alaska
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Arizona
Anthony Bates Foundation Official website
Honoring: Anthony Bates
Cause: Offers heart screenings in Arizona
Andra Heart Foundation Official website
Honoring: Andra Dalrymple
Cause: Offers CPR training
AZ Foundation: Jerry Colangelo Center for Sports Philanthropy Official website
Cause: Raises funds to provide athletic trainers at every post-season game high school game in the state
Steven Gootter Foundation Official website
Honoring: Steven Gootter
Cause: Donates AEDs to schools
T.O.P.S. (Team of Physicians for Students) Official website
Cause: Provides free physicals with EKG
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Arkansas
Kendrick Fincher Hydration for Life Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Kendrick Fincher
Cause: Raise awareness on proper hydration, heat illness
My-HeartCheck Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Provides heart screenings including echos across Arkansas and six other states
Project ADAM - Arkansas Official website
Cause: Educates through CPR and AED programs and helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
California
A Piece of My Heart Official website
Honoring: Morgan Manning
Cause: Offers CPR training and AED donations
Advocates for Injured Athletes Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Promotes sports safety and provides education and resources to help keep athletes safe
Ava's Heart Official website
Cause: Supports heart transplant patients and donor families
Eric Paredes Save A Life Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Eric Paredes
Cause: Provides heart screenings and places AEDs in the community, works on legislation focused on sudden cardiac arrest
Just1Mike Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Michael Brindley
Cause: Raises awareness for sudden cardiac arrest by providing heart screenings
Kyle J. Taylor Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Kyle J. Taylor
Cause: Youth heart screenings, AED donations to youth sports programs and CPR/AED training
Project ADAM - Sacramento Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Project ADAM - San Diego Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Saving Hearts Foundation Official website
Honoring: Inspired by the loss of a family friend of UCLA undergraduates
Cause: Provides heart screenings to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Colorado
Project ADAM - Colorado Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Connecticut
Korey Stringer Institute Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Korey Stringer
Cause: Researches, educates and advocates on the health and safety of athletes at all levels of play
In A Heartbeat Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Promotes sudden cardiac arrest awareness and AED donations
Project ADAM - Connecticut Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Delaware
Matthew Krug Foundation Official website
Honoring: Matthew Krug
Cause: Educates on sudden cardiac arrest, increases AED availability, provides cardiac screenings and works to improve pre-participation physical exams
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Florida
Every Second Counts CPR Official website
Cause: Offer donation-based CPR classes in South Florida
HeartCharged Official website | Instagram page
Cause: Provide heart screenings and CPR/AED training, as well as bring together a community of sudden cardiac arrest survivors
Jessica Clinton MVP Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Jessica Clinton
Cause: Heart screenings and AED donations in Florida
Matthew's Mission Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Works to increase the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest victims through AED donations, education and training
Project ADAM - Southwest Florida Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Project ADAM - South Florida Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
The Mac Parkman Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Mac Parkman
Cause: Raises awareness regarding concussive trauma
Who We Play For Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Rafe Maccarone
Cause: Offers heart screenings in Florida and nationwide
Zach Martin Memorial Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Zach Martin Polsenberg
Cause: Donates cold-water immersion tubs and wet bulb globe thermometers, works on legislation and promotes exertional heat illness prevention measures
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Georgia
JT3 Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Johnnt Tolbert
Cause: Increases exertional heat stroke awareness through cold tub donations and advocating for legislation regarding exertional heat stroke training
Keep Imani Foundation Official website
Honoring: Imani Bell
Cause: Promotes exertional heat awareness and cold tubs
Project S.A.V.E. Official website
Cause: Raises awareness for sudden cardiac arrest; brings CPR training and AEDs to every county in Georgia, awards HeartSafe certificates to schools in Georgia
Smiling Hearts - The Nick Blakley Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Nick Blakley
Cause: Increases access to AEDs, works with athletic associations to implement training standards and safety protocols and advocates for sudden cardiac arrest legislation
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Hawaii
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Idaho
Yakima Heart Safe Initiative Official website
Honoring: All those lost before their time due to the absence of vital preparedness
Cause: Donates AED, provides EAP assistance, instruction, aftercare for those who rendered care and witness sudden cardiac arrest
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Illinois
Greg Holthaus Memorial Fund Facebook page
Honoring: Greg Holthaus
Cause: Provide training, testing and equipment vital to preventing and treating sudden cardiac arrest
Project ADAM - Illinois Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Young Hearts For Life Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Free ECG screenings
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Indiana
Beats for Bubs Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Colton Davis
Cause: Provides CPR and AED training in Northern Indiana
Healthcare Foundation of La Porte Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Provides AED grants
Play for Jake Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Jake West
Cause: Provides heart screenings and AED donations in Northern Indiana
Play Heart Smart Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Offers youth cardiac screenings across Indiana
Project ADAM - Indiana Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Zac Mago Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Zac Mago
Cause: Provides awareness, education and prevention of sudden cardiac arrest with heart screenings in Northern Indiana
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Iowa
My-HeartCheck Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Provides heart screenings including echos across Iowa and six other states
Project ADAM - Iowa Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Kansas
Devon's Beat Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Provides youth heart screenings
Jordan Robert Mann Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Jordan Robert Mann
Cause: Provides heart screenings and financial support to like-minded organizations
My-HeartCheck Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Provides heart screenings including echos across Kansas and six other states
Project ADAM - Heart Safe Kansas Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Strive for Life Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Raises awareness for sudden cardiac arrest by providing heart screenings around Kansas City
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Kentucky
Cameron's Cause Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Cameron Batson
Cause: Provides AED donations in Northern Kentucky
Go Get'Em Foundation Official website
Honoring: Andrew Dodson
Cause: Provides funds for underprivileged youth in Pulaski County for sports-and-school-related needs (League fees, school trips, sports equipment needs, Guardian Caps) and works to increase awareness and use of safety initiatives in youth sports.
Matthew Mangine Jr. "One Shot" Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Matthew Mangine Jr.
Cause: Teaches hands-only CPR training, provides AED donations and advocates for legislation related to sudden cardiac arrest and venue-specific emergency action plans
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Louisiana
Gray's Army Foundation Inc. Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Grayson Temple
Cause: Provides CPR training, heart screenings and AED donations
Living4Burke Foundation Official website
Honoring: Burke Cobb
Cause: Provides CPR training, heart screenings and AED donations
Project ADAM - Louisiana Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Remy Hidalgo Memorial Foundation Facebook page
Honoring: Remy Hidalgo
Cause: Provides exertional heat stroke safety equipment to schools
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Maine
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Maryland
The Jordan McNair Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Jordan McNair
Cause: Advocates for exertional heat illness awareness and legislation surrounding exertional heat
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Massachusetts
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Michigan
Wes Leonard Heart Team Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Wes Leonard
Cause: Provides heart screenings and AED donations
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Minnesota
Play for Patrick Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Patrick Schoonover
Cause: Provides heart screenings and AED donations
Project ADAM - Minnesota Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Mississippi
Project ADAM - Mississippi Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Missouri
My-HeartCheck Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Provides heart screenings including echos across Missouri and six other states
KC Heart Safe Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Project ADAM - Missouri Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Montana
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Nebraska
My-HeartCheck Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Provides heart screenings including echos across Nebraska and six other states
Project ADAM - Nebraska Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Nevada
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
New Hampshire
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
New Jersey
John Taylor Babbitt Foundation Official website
Honoring: John Babbitt
Cause: Provides heart screenings in New Jersey
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
New Mexico
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
New York
Forever 9 Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Robbie Levine
Cause: Donates AEDs to any place where kids play and provides AED/CPR training
Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Louis Acompora
Cause: Provides heart screenings and AED donations
Project ADAM - New York Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
North Carolina
Matthew Gfeller Foundation Official website
Honoring: Matthew Gfeller
Cause: Researches traumatic brain injuries through the University of North Carolina
Project ADAM - North Carolina Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety hat isn't listed? Submit it here.
North Dakota
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Ohio
4Alec Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Alec Kornet
Cause: Provides heart screenings
Matthew Mangine Jr. "One Shot" Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Matthew Mangine Jr.
Cause: Teaches hands-only CPR training, provides AED donations and advocates for legislation related to sudden cardiac arrest and venue-specific emergency action plans
MCORE Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Provides heart screenings to athletes throughout Ohio
Project ADAM - Greater Cincinnati Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Project ADAM - Cleveland Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Project ADAM - Ohio Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Oklahoma
My-HeartCheck Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Provides heart screenings including echos across Oklahoma and six other states
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Oregon
Quinn Driscoll Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Quinn Driscoll
Cause: Provides grants for AEDs
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Pennsylvania
Aidan's Heart Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Aidan Silva
Cause: Provides heart screenings
Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Daniel E. Rumph II
Cause: Provides heart screenings and places AEDs in recreation centers and public facilities
Greg Moyer AED Fund Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Greg Moyer
Cause: Donates AEDs
Louis T. Savino III Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Louis T. Savino III
Cause: Promotes awareness of sudden cardiac death in youth and purchases AEDs for schools, camps and sports facilities
Nicholas Ryan Over Foundation Official website
Honoring: Nicholas Ryan Over
Cause: Promotes awareness of sudden cardiac death through CPR and AED training and AED placement
Peyton Walker Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Peyton Walker
Cause: Donates AEDs
Project ADAM - Philadelphia Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Rhode Island
Maddie Potts Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Maddie Potts
Cause: Educates on brain aneurysm awareness
HeartSAFE Schools RI Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
South Carolina
Below 104 Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Raises awareness for exertional heat stroke
Heart Safe SC Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
South Dakota
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Tennessee
Project ADAM - Tennessee Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Project ADAM - Middle Tennessee Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Project ADAM - Lawson's Legacy Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Texas
As One Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Devaughn Darling
Cause: Provides sickle cell trait & disease screenings, as well as hydration education
Brandon Goyne Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Brandon Goyne
Cause: Provides heart screenings
Cody Stephens 'Go Big or Go Home' Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Cody Stephens
Cause: Provides heart screenings and advocates for sudden cardiac arrest-related legislation
Damani Gibson Foundation Official website
Honoring: Damani Gibson
Cause: Provides heart screenings
Gridiron Heroes Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Focuses on spinal cord injuries
Living for Zachary Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Zachary Schrah
Cause: Provides heart screenings and AED donations
My-HeartCheck Official website | Facebook page
Cause: Provides heart screenings including echos across Texas and six other states
Project ADAM - Forth Worth Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Project ADAM - Houston Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Run for Dylan Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Dylan Dorrell
Cause: Provides heart screenings
Sarah Friend Heart Foundation Facebook page
Honoring: Sarah Friend
Cause: Educates on sudden cardiac arrest
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Utah
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Vermont
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Virginia
Gwyneth's Gift Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Gwyneth Griffin
Cause: Advocated for Gwyneth's Law that passed one year after Gwyneth's collapse, which mandates all Virginia public school high students take hands-only CPR as a graduation requirement and all Virginia public school teachers are required to take a class in hands-only CPR. In addition, the law suggested that all Virginia public schools also have an AED -- that part of the law was realized in April with the passage of SB 1453.
Project ADAM - Virginia Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Washington
DP Foundation Official website | Instagram page
Honoring: Daniel Phelps
Cause: Places AEDs through donations
Nick of Time Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Nick Varrenti
Cause: Provides CPR and AED training
Project ADAM - Inland Northwest Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Quinn Driscoll Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Quinn Driscoll
Cause: Provides grants for AEDs
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
West Virginia
Live Like Caleb Foundation Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Caleb Ray
Cause: Donates AEDs
Project ADAM - West Virginia Official website
Cause: Helps schools become Heart Safe
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Wisconsin
Project ADAM Official website | Facebook page
Honoring: Adam Lemel
Cause: Advocates for AED access and CPR training in schools
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.
Wyoming
Know a foundation focused on athlete health and safety that isn't listed? Submit it here.