Impact Overview

Hendricks Regional Health Foundation recently concluded two programs focused on improving community health through greater cardiac awareness and timely action: First Responder and Healthcare Provider Heart Scans and Community Organization Automated External Defibrillators (AED). Together, these initiatives were designed to encourage proactive screenings that can help prevent cardiac events and to support local organizations with critical tools that can improve outcomes when a cardiac emergency occurs outside of a hospital setting.

“We are grateful to the donors who made these programs possible through their generous support of the Foundation,” said Joel Harbaugh, Executive Director of Hendricks Regional Health Foundation. “Their commitment to our community allowed us to invest in practical, life-saving resources that will continue to benefit local residents, organizations, first responders, and healthcare providers.”

Launched in Spring 2023, the programs were supported by a $150,000 allocation: $125,000 for AED placement and $25,000 for Heart Scans. Earlier this spring, both programs concluded after fully utilizing the funds. In total, 62 AEDs have been placed across our community in schools, churches, youth sports fields, community centers, social service agencies, and at our Fairgrounds. In addition, 509 local first responders, nurses, therapists, and physicians registered for and received diagnostic heart scans, helping to identify potential concerns such as narrowed arteries, heart muscle damage, valve problems, or plaque buildup in the coronary arteries—conditions that can signal risk for heart disease or heart attack.

“It’s rewarding to steward these initiatives and watch them come to life,” said Harbaugh. “These programs were designed to promote and strengthen both prevention and preparedness. Placing 62 AEDs throughout the community and providing 509 diagnostic heart scans represents the kind of meaningful, mission-driven work the Foundation is proud to support. Ultimately, credit belongs to our donors whose gifts support the Foundation and initiatives like these.”

We are also grateful to our Hendricks Regional Health associates who scheduled, tracked, and performed the heart scans, as well as the teams who reviewed AED applications and coordinated the distribution of devices throughout the community. Because of this collaborative commitment, more individuals received access to early detection, and more organizations are equipped to respond when seconds matter most.