The Green Bay Packers and Bellin Health are partnering once again to donate updated CPR instruction and AED equipment to local schools, thanks to an NFL Foundation grant designated for promoting CPR education, AED access and training nationwide.
The funding from the $20,000 NFL Foundation CPR Education Grant will provide up-to-date CPR and AED instruction equipment for a dozen schools in Northeast Wisconsin:
- Ashwaubenon High School
- Green Bay Notre Dame Academy
- Coleman High School
- Lena High School
- Marinette High School
- Wausaukee High School
- Crivitz High School
- Bonduel High School
- Gillett High School
- Suring High School
- Reedsville High School
- Green Bay School District
In addition, Bellin and the Packers will donate four AEDs to local schools that will be selected at Bellin's Athletic Director Business Meeting in early May. Bellin will help provide training resources to each of the schools receiving support from the grant.
"We are so grateful to the NFL and the Green Bay Packers for their partnership in this effort to equip our schools with this potentially life-saving equipment, and the up-to-date training to ensure it's used the right way," said Bellin Health Athletic Training Team Facilitator Mark Husen. "It's not just about the players, it's about the fans, referees and others whose lives could be saved by quick access to CPR and AED."
These latest donations come on the heels of a large-scale CPR/AED effort between Bellin and the Packers in 2023, a collaboration that was developed in the wake of the cardiac emergency Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin experienced in early 2023. The two organizations teamed up to build awareness of the need and enhance access to CPR and AED training and devices.
As part of last year's effort, the Packers funded $100,000 toward providing 80 AEDs to eligible school and recreational sports leagues in need throughout Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Bellin conducted training for each recipient and is continuing with annual checks to ensure all equipment is functioning properly. In addition, Bellin provided hands-only CPR training for the public during last year's Packers training camp.
