{"id":78173,"date":"2025-07-17T06:44:57","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T10:44:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/?p=78173"},"modified":"2025-07-17T08:57:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T12:57:04","slug":"culpepper-cardiac-foundation-places-68th-aed-for-winter-haven-high-school-baseball-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/17\/culpepper-cardiac-foundation-places-68th-aed-for-winter-haven-high-school-baseball-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Culpepper Cardiac Foundation Places 68th AED for Winter Haven High School Baseball Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Winter Haven, FL \u2013 On July 15, 2025, the Culpepper Cardiac Foundation (CCF), in partnership with the R2Cares Foundation, installed its 68th life-saving Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for the Winter Haven High School Baseball Team, enhancing safety for student-athletes and coaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joel Hernandez, Junior Varsity Coach for the baseball team at Winter Haven High School for seven years, expressed enthusiasm about the new equipment. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cNow we have the equipment to make sure the kids are safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Melanie Culpepper and Ronnie Richardson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ronnie Richardson, a former professional baseball player, current coach in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, and founder of the R2Cares Foundation, emphasized the importance of the partnership. \u201cFoundations supporting each other is a powerful thing,\u201d Richardson said. \u201cWe can go further together than we ever could alone. You never know whose life might be saved by having an AED available.\u201d Having known CCF founder Melanie Brown Culpepper through family connections for years, Richardson praised her selflessness: \u201cWhat she\u2019s doing is bigger than any one person\u2014it\u2019s a shining example of selflessness in action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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WHHS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dawson Young, a 2018 Winter Haven High School graduate and former baseball player, shared his connection to the location. \u201cI loved the location of the event,\u201d Young said. \u201cWe used to put in hours and hours of hard work and sweat and blood in that place.\u201d Now a life insurance agent, Young commended CCF\u2019s proactive approach: \u201cIt\u2019s bringing awareness to the community and being proactive. It\u2019s not something you think about until that tragic time comes, and you need the proper things set in place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eric Shimcus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The installation event included a demonstration by Eric Shimcus, who earned praise for his clear and professional explanations. \u201cHe\u2019s amazing at explaining everything, great at his job!\u201d Hernandez noted. Richardson, experiencing his first AED demonstration, added, \u201cNow I feel confident that I could assist if the situation ever arose.\u201d Young echoed, \u201cThe demonstration was informing and helpful on how to properly use the AED. Eric did a great job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AED placement at Winter Haven High School is critical for high-pressure athletic environments. \u201cI\u2019ve personally witnessed players pass out during games,\u201d Richardson said. \u201cHaving an AED unit available during any competition gives us peace of mind. We\u2019d rather be safe than sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Culpepper Cardiac Foundation continues its mission to promote heart safety, and this 68th AED placement, in collaboration with R2Cares, underscores their commitment to saving lives. \u201cSaving Lives Matters,\u201d Hernandez said, echoing the foundation\u2019s core value. \u201cYou guys know exactly what you\u2019re doing. Keep up the great work!\u201d Young added, \u201cI pray that God puts you in front of all the right people to get this message out! Keep saving lives!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n