Leadership Gilroy Class of 2016 – Striving to Make Gilroy A City With A Beat

Each year the Leadership Gilroy class works together on a community service project. Projects are designed to make an impact on the community and provide a learning platform for the class to practice leadership skills they have been learning throughout the program.

This year the Class of 2016 has a mission to educate the community regarding the importance of learning hands-only CPR and the significance of early Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use. In collaboration with the City of Gilroy and the Fire Department, the class would like to help Gilroy become a “HEARTSafe City" – a movement to educate communities about recognition and assistance with sudden cardiac arrest, as well having one public access AED for every 1,000 residents.

They will be hosting a 5K HEARTSafe Run/Walk at the Gilroy Sports Complex on August 20th from 8-11am. Hands only CPR and AED instruction will be provided at the event. In addition to raising awareness on this important topic, the class is raising funds to purchase AEDs for several non-profits in an effort to increase the number of public access defibrillators located in the community.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is responsible for taking the lives of over 326,000 adults and children each year. The class hopes the community of Gilroy will join them in understanding the significant impact that can be made in a community when citizens learn CPR and AED use. According to The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, “When bystanders intervene by giving CPR and using AEDs before EMS arrives, four out of 10 victims survive.”

For more information or to make a donation, please visit heartsafegilroy.eventbrite.com or email info@leadershipgilroy.org.