by James Coulter
When you’re eating at an Italian restaurant like Floridino’s Italian Kitchen in Winter Haven, the only thing you should have to worry about is potential heartburn, not a heart attack.
For that reason, customers at Floridino’s can eat their meals in peace knowing that an emergency medical device is readily available in case of a serious medical emergency.
On Thurs. Apr. 17, Floridino’s received an automated external defibrillator (AED) donated and installed by Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation (CCF).
Floridino’s is a family business run by Michael Floridino Sr., his sons Michael Jr. and Jonathan, and his wife, Ann Floridino. He and his family have owned and operated their business since 1988.
Michael Sr. expressed his gratitude for the donation, which he considered to be a pleasant surprise.
“This was a surprise by Tanners and we are at a loss for words,” he said. “We are also working on paying it forward for another business.”
The AED donation was sponsored by Tanners Lakeside in Winter Haven, which sponsored the donation as a way to “pay it forward” after having received an AED for their own eatery. Tanners has donated many other AEDs through CCF.
“We are very grateful to be able to continue to pay it forward to help bring awareness of a lacking piece of equipment every establishment should have,” said Allison Rollins, General Manager at Tanners for 7 years. “We are going to continue to help support the cause and hope others join in.”
Allison and her business had previously sponsored another AED donation. As a close personal friend of CCF founder, Melanie Brown Culpepper, Rollins is proud of the good the non-profit has done for the community.
“Melanie is helping spread the word of this simple but very important need for the community,” Rollins said. “It has already been shown to have a huge impact on the chances of survival if an AED is available and with her helping place these around Polk our whole community is safer.”
Kelly Harris has assisted Melanie with her non-profit organization and with many fundraising events over the years. Her late husband, Jay, had passed away from a heart attack in 2020. Knowing the pain such an incident can cause, she feels assured that such tragedies can be prevented through CCF and its AED donations.
“I lost my husband 2 years ago so I feel very blessed to be able to be a part of this foundation to help save lives,” she said. “If even one life is saved with one of these AEDs [that] Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation has placed, then it will be so worth it!”
Melanie started CCF nearly five years ago following the passing of her late fiancée Michael Culpepper, who passed away from cardiac arrest. Not wanting anyone else to suffer a similar fate, she started CCF to raise proceeds to donate AEDs across the county.
Since its inception, CCF has donated more than 60 AEDs to businesses across Polk County, including Tanner’s Lakeside, Old Man Frank’s, and Caribbean Bay. Later this year, her organization will be hosting its annual Saving Lives Matter fundraiser at Tanner’s Lakeside.
Melanie was pleased about the AED being donated to Floridino’s, as she stated the donation helped honor the memory of Tyler Floridino, the son of the eatery’s founder and his family.
“Tyler was a friend of Michael Culpepper,” she said. “Michael always talked about Tyler to me as a he had meant a lot to Culpepper before he passed. I personally have nothing but love and respect for all of the Floridino family and I was honored to be able to have this AED placed at this location as I know Culpepper would be proud.”
“I would like to add that Melanie is working hard to bring the AED to every business in Polk County,” Floridino Sr. said. “We thank Tanners and Melanie for selecting Floridino’s as a recipient of the AED.”
To learn more, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/honoringculpepper/
