ALBANY, N.Y. — Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation is launching quarterly mini-grant funding open to community nonprofits for the purchase of an AED and training for two organization representatives in the American Red Cross Workplace Safety Program (First Aid, CPR, and AED training).
The lifesaving event of NFL player Damar Hamlin’s resuscitation from cardiac arrest inspired a partnership between Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation (TSBCF) and the American Red Cross of Eastern New York to help save lives, said a press release announcing the cooperative. The Red Cross ENY and TSBCF partnership kicked off during AED/CPR Awareness Week June 1 – 7.
More than 350,000 people suffer cardiac arrest annually in the United States, officials said. According to the American Red Cross, a person experiencing cardiac arrest loses 10% of their chance for survival each minute that defibrillation is delayed, and when bystanders take action, CPR can double or triple the chance of survival.
The Red Cross stresses that every second counts in cardiac arrest and people can save lives by knowing how to perform CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
“We are thrilled to partner with Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation to train more people in critical lifesaving skills and build more resilient communities,” said Kevin Coffey, Regional Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross Eastern New York Region, in the release.
“The Red Cross’s commitment to empowering our communities with lifesaving skills makes them the natural partner for this mini-grant program,” said Leslie Cheu, Executive Director of The Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, in the release. “Through this partnership, more community volunteers will be trained in CPR and the proper use of AEDs. Each person who is trained can make a big difference in an emergency.”
To be eligible to apply, nonprofit organizations must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code, headquartered in and serve the residents of Albany or Rensselaer Counties of New York State, own or lease a building that is open to and provides services to the community and have an annual operating budget of less than $750,000. The release said grant applicants should call Cheu at 518-720-0006 to determine their organization’s eligibility for funding consideration.
If eligible, applicants will be invited to submit a mini-grant application through the Foundation’s online grant portal. The grant portal opens on Monday, June 3 and will close on Monday, June 17.
Grant applicants will be notified by Monday, July 8 of the committee’s decision. Applicants not selected can resubmit their application up to three times for funding consideration in future quarterly review cycles.
