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Help Chad Safeguard Young Hearts

The Gift of Heart though Chad Screenings

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Help Chad Safeguard Young Hearts

Help Chad Safeguard Young Hearts

Help Chad Safeguard Young Hearts

Help Chad Safeguard Young Hearts

Help Chad Safeguard Young Hearts

The Gift of Heart though Chad Screenings

The Gift of Heart though Chad Screenings

The Gift of Heart though Chad Screenings

The Gift of Heart though Chad Screenings

Arista
Arista
Arista
Arista
1 Campaign |
New York, United States
$410 USD 7 backers
2% of $20,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

Our Story

A grassroots non-profit, The Chad Foundation for Athletes and Artists provides heart screenings to young athletes and students. The organization was formed in honor of son, brother and friend, Chad Burtrum, who, at 26, died of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Gregarious, kind and spirited, Chad was a healthy, strong man with no prior history of heart disease. 


The Chad Foundation works to prevent such sudden, tragic deaths from occurring through early detection and prevention. Heart screenings can detect early risk factors for heart diseases such as hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes, and may prevent Sudden Cardiac Death. To date, the organization has provided near 6,000 heart screenings to high school and college students and the disenfranchised in five states and Austria and Sweden. We were the very first organization to provide echocardiogram screenings to high school students in North Hollywood, CA. We are fortunate to have some of the best hospitals in the country support our program: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Johns Hopkins and NYU.


We also create art, through books, film and theatre, that articulates our motto "Healthy Body, Mind and Spirit." The Chad Players have performed six Off-Broadway performances, including one special performance for three hundred New York City homeless men and women. Our third production of "Days of Wine and Roses" was brought to Atlantic City as the community event of the year. The play highlights the deleterious effects of substance abuse on the family.


We invite you to join us in protecting young hearts and their futures as we strive to expand our program to other states.


The Impact

When Chad Foundation began its work, awareness of HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an abnormally enlarged heart muscle) was extremely low. At the time, it was believed only 11 or 12 young people died annually from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. The CDC now reports that 5,000 people between 15 and 34 years of age die from this "silent killer." Considered the gold standard, the echocardiogram screens for structural abnormalities and the EKG detects electrical anomalies, yet these are not standard in youth prescreening medical exams and are not normally covered by insurance companies. 


In countries like Italy, screenings have been mandatory for the past 25 years with a 94% save rate. Our program has found a 10% rate of heart anomalies for every 100 people screened. We strive to raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Death in the young in all 50 states, teach others about the warning signs and the importance of preventive screenings as the best way to detect lethal heart abnormalities and prevent early heart disease. Our goal is to provide at least one screening in every state, which communities can replicate, with the ultimate goal of mandatory heart screenings for all our US athletes.


What We Need & What You Get

Chad Foundation needs donations that empower us to expand our heart-screening program state by state. Parents, athletic trainers, athletes, artists and health professionals support our work. There are no paid salaries in our organization; every dollar raised goes toward operational costs of our preventive screening program.


We plan to provide heart screenings in 5 states, MA, CT, MI, CA and NY. If we exceed our goal, we will be able to provide screenings to other states that have never had heart screening programs for their youth. Even if we do not meet our goal, we will complete as many screenings as possible!


Your gifts, large or small, allow us to organize screenings for youth, travel to their communities, provide supplies and personnel. In return, you will have the greatest gratitude of every parent and family member with a child who has benefited from our program, and you will have helped protect a child's future.


We are working on a book and screenplay on the foundation's journey, and in the future we may be able to offer discounts or passes in appreciation of your Gifts--stay tuned!


Other Ways You Can Help

Firstly, raise your, your family's and friends' awareness of Sudden Cardiac Death in young people, its causes, warning signs (fainting, blackouts, dizziness, especially related to physical activity, is NOT NORMAL for teens). Remember that heart anomalies can be present at any age. We have found babies with a hole in their hearts and adults in their late 30s. 


  • See your physician! 
  • Know your own family heart health history (Has anyone died from heart problems before the age of 50? Have/had high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol?)
  • Advocate that cardiovascular questions are present on health questionnaires your child fills out in schools
  • Make sure AEDs (automated external defibrillator) are in all your schools, offices, recreation centers, gyms
  • Know what the “Chain of Survival” is and take CPR classes
  • At your next race or walk, think about donating the proceeds for a heart screening at your local high school or have a fun dance event to sponsor a heart screening!
  • Tell those who are interested in their child's heart health about the Chad Foundation and the work that we do!
  • Tell other people about the Chad Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, or forums
  • Add Chad Foundation on Facebook and help us gain support! http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Chad-Foundation-for-Athletes-and-Artists/368894949802472?ref=tn_tnmn


From the Heart, we thank you for spreading the word. Take care of your heart and those of others--especially young people!

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