The American Heart Association (AHA) has awarded 33 Nation of Lifesaver financial grants to AHA Heart Clubs at high schools and colleges across 20 states and the District of Columbia, the organization announced on March 26, 2026. These grants are designed to expand CPR training and improve cardiac emergency preparedness on campuses, addressing the statistic that 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital die, often because they do not receive immediate CPR.
The grants support the AHA's nationwide movement to double survival rates from cardiac arrest by 2030. Heart Clubs are student-led organizations that promote physical and mental well-being. Since the 2024-2025 school year, more than 250 such clubs have been established. The grant recipients include colleges such as the University of Rhode Island, Howard University, Cornell University, and Spelman College, as well as high schools like Clara Barton High School in Brooklyn and Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami.
For colleges, the grants include funding for two CPR in Schools Kits—complete with manikins and training materials—and $500 to facilitate CPR training. For high schools, the grants provide funding to develop a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan, offer card-credentialed CPR First Aid AED training, raise awareness with CPR in Schools Kits, and advocate for safer school policies.
Pia Scarfo Allocca, whose son Francesco experienced sudden cardiac arrest at a high school basketball tryout 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. “Someone started compressions. Someone grabbed the AED. My son is alive because his school was prepared.”
Dr. Stacey E. Rosen, volunteer president of the AHA, stated, “Preparation should be the norm, not the exception. These Heart Club grants will support the student volunteers and teacher advocates working to save lives through CPR training and education.” The AHA, a worldwide leader in resuscitation science, published the latest CPR clinical guidelines in October 2025 in its journal, Circulation.
The Nation of Lifesavers initiative aims to turn bystanders into lifesavers, ensuring that anyone is prepared to perform CPR in a cardiac emergency. Walgreens is a national sponsor of the initiative. The AHA encourages everyone to learn CPR and join the effort to improve survival rates.
