Heart Health Group Receives DCF Proactive Grant

The grant is part of the Foundation’s annual program.

DCF Board member James D. Humphrey, left, presents a $1,000 check to Doug Meyer of Giving Hearts A Hand. Photo provided.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - The Dearborn Community Foundation (DCF), Inc. recently awarded a $1,000 Proactive Grant to the Giving Hearts a Hand (GHH) organization, which heads a cause that Board member James D. Humphrey, who made the recommendation, personally understands.

The grant is part of the Foundation’s annual program, through which each of the organization’s 15 volunteer board members recommends a $1,000 grant. The grants to charitable organizations that serve Dearborn County residents are funded through Unrestricted Endowment Funds, established by donors to provide flexibility to address changing needs in the community over the years.

The 14-year-old GHH provides cardiac screenings for local high school athletes. It also helps provide Automatic External Defibrillators in communities where needed, said Humphrey.

“Based upon family experiences, I have become personally aware of the importance of heart health. My father died of heart disease at age 58. As a child, I contracted rheumatic fever, which damaged a heart valve,” he said.

“I have been able to lead an active and productive life thanks to excellent medical care, and the initial screening which detected the issue when I was a small child. I want to see other young people have the same opportunity for good health.”

GHH has provided 2,200 cardiac screenings to student athletes. Screening consists of an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram, detecting electrical and structural abnormalities.

GHH was created in 2011 by Doug and Cortney Meyer after news reports of several young athletes passing away while participating in sports. That spring, the tragic story of Wes Leonard, a Fennville, Mich, high school basketball player, particularly grabbed their attention. Leonard hit a game winning shot, then collapsed and died seconds later due to an undetected heart condition.

Doug was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy at age 15. He was fortunate to have an early detection/diagnosis and has been able to live a normal, healthy lifestyle. For many students, the first symptom can be their last. Sudden Cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death for student athletes in the United States. The organization also has funded, or helped fund, more than 60 Automatic External Defibrillators for Dearborn, Ripley, Ohio, and Switzerland counties.

“I applaud Giving Hearts a Hand for its mission. I am proud to support their effort,” said Humphrey.

Visit givingheartsahand.org for more on GHH.