The American Heart Association has awarded 33 Nation of Lifesaver financial grants to Heart Clubs at high schools and colleges across 20 states, including the District of Columbia, to expand CPR training and create safer campus environments. According to the association, 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital die, often because they do not receive immediate CPR. These grants aim to address that gap and support the association's goal of doubling cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030.
Heart Clubs are student-led organizations that empower members to lead activities promoting physical and mental well-being. Since their inception in the 2024-2025 school year, more than 250 such groups have formed nationwide. Grant recipients include 15 colleges such as Howard University, Cornell University, and the University of Michigan, as well as 18 high schools including Locust Valley High School in New York and Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Florida.
The grants provide colleges with two CPR in Schools Kits, complete with manikins and training materials, plus $500 to facilitate CPR training. For high schools, funding supports developing a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan, providing CPR First Aid AED training, and advocating for public policies to enhance school safety.
Pia Scarfo Allocca, mother of Francesco Allocca who survived sudden cardiac arrest at Locust Valley High School basketball tryouts in November 2025, emphasized the importance of preparedness. “When my son’s heart stopped, his coaches knew exactly what to do and jumped into action. But not everyone is that lucky,” she said. “My son is alive because his school was prepared.”
Dr. Stacey E. Rosen, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, noted that preparation should be the norm. “These Heart Club grants will support the student volunteers and teacher advocates across this country working to save lives through CPR training and education.”
The American Heart Association is a leading authority on resuscitation science and publishes the official CPR guidelines. Its Nation of Lifesavers initiative aims to equip bystanders with the skills to perform CPR. Walgreens is a national sponsor of the program. More information is available at heart.org/nation.
