Auburn School District No. 408
915 4th Street Northeast, Auburn, WA  98002

10/19/05

NEWS RELEASE
AED Fundraising Event was a Heart Stopper

When The Heart of Auburn Schools committee, comprised of local physicians and community members, began a campaign to place an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) within “two to three minutes of every student and person” on Auburn School District property several months ago, they were determined and passionate about their cause. But they had no idea as to the magnitude and intensity of the communities of Auburn, Algona, and Pacific’s response to their mission.

Prior to the committee’s fundraising event that was held last Saturday evening, October 15, in the Truitt Building in Auburn, several donations had been made to the campaign to purchase AEDs. Also, several schools were able to earn AEDs by participating in the American Heart Association’s HeartWalk or through PTA donations. Nevertheless, funds for 46 AEDs still needed to be raised at an approximate cost of $1,400 each.

As Saturday’s fundraising event began, over 200 local residents including physicians, firefighters, government leaders, school staff, PTA parents, and principals, flocked into the dinner auction. Throughout the program, the guests were moved by local survivor stories that included a popular principal’s wife; a former Auburn judge; a young mother waiting to give birth to her first child; and a school employee who was brought back to life with an AED installed in her school a week prior to her collapse. With heartfelt emotion, John Keister, guest speaker and former host of the Seattle television hit, "Almost Live!," shared his testimonial about an AED life-saving incident of which he had been part. The committee’s goal of educating the community about the ability of AEDs to save the lives of young and old alike was being accomplished.

Dr. Stephen H. Anderson, the Heart of Auburn Schools chairperson, then led the guests in one of the most heartwarming shows of community support since the final scene in the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Bid paddles symbolizing the life-giving paddles of an AED were raised continuously across the crowded room as guests generously and eagerly donated to ensure that each of the hearts representing a school was filled on the banner above Dr. Anderson’s head. By the end of the rousing paddle-raising, the event had garnered enough donations to place an AED in every school and district building.

Because of the commitment of the Heart of Auburn Schools committee and the generosity of the community, Auburn School District has the honor of being the only district in the nation to have a life-saving AED within “two to three minutes of every student” through private donations.

For more information, contact Superintendent Linda Cowan, at (253) 931-4914.

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