Before sharing the heartfelt words from Melanie Brown Culpepper Beilke, it’s important to recognize the impact Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation continues to make throughout the community. From placing lifesaving AEDs across Polk County to supporting future first responders and medical professionals through scholarships, the foundation has spent years honoring Michael Culpepper’s legacy by helping others. On May 7, 2026, that mission continued as a $1,000 scholarship was presented to Auburndale High School student Ryleigh Turner during the school’s awards ceremony.
Last night I was honored to give out a $1,000 scholarship from Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation to Ms Ryleigh Turner at Auburndale High School sponsored by Ms Jenny Helms with The Auburndale Fruit Company !!!
I started Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation in 2021 in honor of Michael Culpepper, who passed away from Congestive Heart Failure. I wanted to help save someone else’s life because I couldn’t save him. I wanted to honor Culpepper and to let him know that he didn’t die in vain.
We raise money every year to put out AEDs throughout our community. We are currently at #95 AED going out this month that we have placed in our communities.
We also chose to help give out 3 scholarships every year for Medical, Fire and EMT as we support all of our 1st Responders. We want to help students further their education and this is our way to say Thank You to our students & to help further their education in choosing to Save Others.
This is our 6th year giving out scholarships with The Polk Education Foundation and $13,000 that will have given scholarships to at the end of this month.
I have had many people sponsor throughout these years for AED’s which has been a blessing. This is the second year in a row that we have had Ms Jenny Helms sponsor a scholarship through the Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation and I just want to let Jenny with Auburndale Fruit company know how grateful I am that she could be here tonight to give the honor of handing out this scholarship to this beautiful young lady.
Jenny and her husband Steve Helms graduated from Auburndale High School in 1975 & 1978. They bought Auburndale Fruit Company in 1994. It was also special that Jenny actually got baptized right here at The 1st Missionary Church of Auburndale. Ms. Jenny was here with me tonight so that we could congratulate the class of 2026!
Go BloodHounds!!!
And to help give out the scholarship to Ms Ryleigh Turner.
Also to my surprise, I happened to know Ryleigh’s Mom, Amanda Maria Ventura and Amanda’s Mom, Laurie Lee Beck and sister Shaleigh McGowan, who I had not seen in awhile, but who has been good friends of mine for years. What a small world and what a blessing..
Thank you, Jenny Helms for coming and to my husband , Brian Beilke for always standing behind me and being here for me no matter what. Thank you, everyone who helps support, donate, sponsor & and promote in anyway.
Without all of you and the love of our community we couldn’t do this and it takes all of us pulling together to make a difference as “Saving Lives Matters.”
