The American Heart Association has awarded 32 Nation of Lifesaver financial grants to Heart Clubs at 33 high schools and colleges across 20 states and the District of Columbia, aiming to increase CPR training and improve cardiac emergency preparedness on campuses. According to the Association, 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital die, partly because immediate CPR is not provided more than half the time. These grants are designed to make it easier for students and educators to learn CPR and strengthen the Association's goal to double survival rates from cardiac arrest by 2030.
American Heart Association Heart Clubs are student-led organizations on high school and college campuses that empower members to lead activities supporting physical and mental well-being while making a community impact. Since their launch in the 2024-2025 school year, more than 250 Heart Clubs have been established across the U.S. The following schools received grants: colleges including University of Rhode Island, Washington and Lee University, Howard University, Villanova University, Cornell University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Michigan, Purdue University, Fisk University, Spelman College, Tuskegee University, Grambling State University, The University of Texas at Austin, California State University Fresno, and Molloy University; and high schools including Hampshire Regional High School, Clara Barton High School for Health Professions, Locust Valley High School, The Ursuline School, Bayside High School, George Washington High School, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies, Alliance Academy for Innovation, Pope Saint John Paul II Preparatory School, Pflugerville High School, TCC SE Mansfield ISD Early College High School at Timberview, Davis Senior High School, Mt. Carmel High School, Newark Memorial High School, Ruben S. Ayala High School, Vanden High School, and West Career and Technical Academy.
Pia Scarfo Allocca, mother of Francesco Allocca who experienced sudden cardiac arrest at tryouts for the Locust Valley High School basketball team 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. Once people knew what was happening, their training kicked in. Someone started compressions. Someone grabbed the AED. My son is alive because his school was prepared."
Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association and senior vice president of women's health at Northwell Health, stated: "Preparation should be the norm, not the exception. These Heart Club grants will support the student volunteers and teacher advocates across this country working to save lives through CPR training and education."
For colleges, the Nation of Lifesaver grants include funding for two CPR in Schools Kits, complete with manikins and training materials, and $500 to facilitate CPR training on campus. For high schools, the grants provide funding to develop a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan, provide card-credentialed CPR First Aid AED training for students and faculty, raise awareness with CPR in Schools Kits, and advocate for public policies that make schools safer.
The American Heart Association is a global leader in resuscitation science, education, and training, and publishes the official scientific guidelines for CPR. The latest CPR clinical guidelines were published October 22, 2025 in the Association's journal, Circulation. The Nation of Lifesavers initiative aims to turn bystanders into lifesavers, ensuring that anyone, anywhere is prepared to perform CPR. More information can be found at heart.org/nation.
