Our Mission

AED Placement & Community Impact Program

Champions of the Heart Foundation is committed to increasing access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), providing Hands-Only CPR training, and promoting lifesaving cardiac-arrest response throughout our communities.

Through the AED Placement & Community Impact Program, Champions of the Heart provides AEDs to organizations that demonstrate a meaningful need and a commitment to creating a sustainable CPR and AED program.

We are particularly interested in organizations that will use the AED to protect their members, employees, participants, visitors, and the surrounding community.

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Organizations may submit an AED application during any of the four application periods each year.

Application Deadlines

Champions of the Heart will review applications that are complete and submitted by the applicable deadline.

Applicants will be notified of the decision within 30 days following each application deadline.

If an application is incomplete, Champions of the Heart may request additional information before making a decision.

Application deadlines:
• January 31
• May 31
• August 31
• November 30

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What Makes a Strong AED Application?

Champions of the Heart evaluates applications based on several factors. There is not necessarily one characteristic that determines whether an organization receives an AED. Instead, we consider the overall potential for the AED to save lives and create a lasting impact.

Strong applications will clearly demonstrate:

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2. Financial Need

Champions of the Heart recognizes that some organizations may not have the financial resources to purchase an AED.
Please explain:
• Why your organization needs financial assistance.
• Why your organization cannot reasonably purchase an AED on its own.
• Whether your organization has attempted to secure other funding.
• Whether your organization can contribute toward the maintenance of the AED.

Financial need is an important consideration, but it is not the only factor in the selection process.

1. A Meaningful Need for an AED

Explain why an AED is needed at your organization.
Consider:
• How many people regularly use or visit your facility?
• Are there children, adults, seniors, athletes, employees, or other
populations who may benefit?
• How close is the nearest AED?
• How long might it take for an AED to reach someone experiencing
sudden cardiac arrest?
• Has your organization experienced a cardiac emergency?
• Does your organization serve a population or geographic area with
limited AED access?

Specific information and examples are encouraged.

3. An AED/CPR Champion

Each organization receiving an AED should identify an AED/CPR Champion.

The Champion wil serve as the primary person responsible for helping maintain the organization's CPR/AED program.
The Champion should be wiling to:
• Learn how to use the AED.
• Receive Hands-Only CPR education.
• Help develop the organization's CPR/AED sudden cardiac arrest
emergency response plan.
• Coordinate regular CPR/AED education within the organization.
• Help ensure employees, staff, volunteers, coaches, or other appropriate members know what to do during a cardiac emergency.
• Work with Champions of the Heart to strengthen the organization's
program.

Champions of the Heart can assist organizations in developing their CPR/AED plan and educational program.

5. AED Accessibility

The AED should be positioned so that it can be accessed quickly during an emergency.
Applicants should explain:
• Where the AED wil be located.
• Why that location was selected.
• Who wil have access to it.
• Whether it wil be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• If not available 24/7 provide hours that it is available.
• Can it be accessed by the surrounding community during a cardiac
arrest emergency?
• If the organization operates at multiple locations, how AED coverage will be provided.

An AED that is locked away or inaccessible when an emergency occurs has limited lifesaving value.

6. Number of People Potentialy Impacted

Please provide an estimate of the number of people who could potentialy benefit from the AED.
This may include:
• Employees
• Members
• Students
• Athletes
• Coaches
• Visitors
• Customers
• Volunteers
• Families
• Spectators
• Community members

Please provide your best estimate and explain how you arrived at the number.

7. Location and Community Need

Champions of the Heart wil consider where the AED wil be placed and the surrounding community's access to lifesaving equipment.
Applicants should describe:
• The organization's geographic location.
• Whether the organization operates from one location or multiple
locations.
• Whether the organization travels or operates in different locations.
• The availability of other AEDs nearby, if known.
• Any characteristics of the surrounding community that demonstrate a particular need.

8. Training and Education Commitment

An AED is most effective when people know how to recognize sudden cardiac arrest, immediately begin CPR, and use the AED.

Organizations receiving an AED should commit to creating a culture of CPR and AED readiness.
The organization should:
• Identify an AED/CPR Champion.
• Provide Hands-Only CPR and AED education.
• Develop a plan for regular training.
• Work to ensure that trained individuals are regularly present at the
facility.
• Educate staff, volunteers, participants, members, or other appropriate populations.
• Consider opportunities to educate the surrounding community.

Champions of the Heart may provide guidance, educational resources, and assistance in developing the organization's training plan.

9. AED Maintenance

AED recipients are responsible for maintaining the AED according to the manufacturer's requirements.
Organizations must agree to:
• Conduct scheduled AED inspections.
• Ensure the AED remains operational.
• Monitor expiration dates.
• Replace batteries and electrode pads as required.
• Folow the manufacturer's maintenance requirements.
• Maintain appropriate records of AED inspections and maintenance.

Applicants should describe how the organization wil cover the ongoing costs of AED maintenance, including replacement batteries and pads when needed.

10. Community Impact

Champions of the Heart is particularly interested in AED placements that can benefit more than the organization's immediate members or employees.

Please describe whether the AED could be available to the surrounding community.
Examples may include:
• Community sporting events
• Youth athletic programs
• Parks and recreation activities
• Community events
• Schools
• Churches
• Neighborhood activities
• Public gatherings
• Other organizations that use the facility

Applicants should explain who could access the AED, when it would be accessible, and how someone would know where to find it during an emergency.

4. A CPR/AED Emergency Response Plan

Organizations should have—or commit to developing—a plan for responding to sudden cardiac arrest.
The plan should address:
• How someone wil recognize a cardiac emergency.
• How 911 wil be activated.
• Who wil retrieve the AED.
• Where the AED wil be located.
• Who wil perform Hands-Only CPR.
• How emergency responders wil be directed to the individual.
• How the organization wil coordinate CPR/AED training.
• How the plan wil be communicated to employees, staff, volunteers,
participants, and/or members.

Organizations that do not currently have a plan may still apply. Champions of the Heart can work with selected organizations to develop one if desired.

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Our Philosophy

impact is the key

Champions of the Heart believes that an AED should be placed where it can have the greatest potential impact.

We wil consider:

Need + Accessibility + Training + Sustainability + Community Impact

Champions of the Heart is committed to helping successful applicants build the knowledge, confidence, and systems necessary to make their AED placement successful.

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Behind Champions of the Heart is a Survivor

Meet Coach Michael Garland, whose life was restored because two bystanders knew CPR and acted fast. Their story is a reminder of what’s possible when a community is equipped, empowered, and engaged.

Not everyone gets that chance.

But everyone should.

And that’s exactly what the Million Dollar Heartbeat Challenge is here to change.

70% of cardiac arrests happen outside hospitals.

Most bystanders don’t know CPR.

Many schools, gyms, and campuses don’t have working AEDs.

Minutes matter — and too many lives are lost in those minutes.

This doesn’t have to be our reality.
Your $1 helps rewrite the story.

Let's Get More Hands On Hearts

We’re rallying 1 million people across the country to give $1 toward a future where:

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Challenge your circle to save the next heartbeat.

Give for someone you love
A parent. A coach. A teammate. A stranger. Yourself.

Your $1 does more good than you realize.
Someone survives tomorrow because you acted today.