News & Events
Exceptional High School Seniors Awarded $500 College Scholarship
Exceptional High School Seniors Awarded $500 College Scholarship
Smiling Hearts: The Nick Blakely Foundation Announces Recipients of its First College Scholarship Program
Lawrenceville, GA – Smiling Hearts: The Nick Blakely Foundation is proud to announce its first-ever award recipients of the Nick Blakely Scholarship. Following a detailed review process of more than 60 qualified applicants, Smiling Hearts selected Samantha Zelitt (Bradenton, FL), Victoria Molloy (Cape Coral, FL), Tatyana Mangual (Lawrenceville, GA), and Jandolyn Washington (Stone Mountain, GA) as the inaugural winners. Each will receive a $500 scholarship towards their first year of college studies.
Not only did Smiling Hearts find each award recipient impressive, but so did Florida Gulf Coast University, University of Central Florida, College of Coastal Georgia, and Spelman College, where each has chosen to enroll this fall, respectively. "The Nick Blakely Scholarship supports our mission to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest, while also honoring the memory of my son, Nick Blakely,” says Michelle Fields-Wilson, Founder of Smiling Hearts. “We are honored to grant the scholarships to these exceptional students, as they exemplify the qualities and values that Nick stood for and we are eager to see what each will achieve in their college studies and beyond.” For media inquiries and to learn more about Smiling Hearts, it's mission to save young lives from sudden cardiac arrest, and its scholarships, please contact Ryan Brown, Executive Director, at 617-817-6830, ryan.brown@nickblakelyfoundation.org.
At Smiling Hearts: The Nick Blakely Foundation, our vision is to turn every potential tragedy of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) into a story of survival. We believe this is possible by advancing overall awareness to young athletes, parents, and coaches, providing youth with access to preventative heart screenings, implementing training standards and safety protocols in athletic associations and educational institutions, and advocating for the establishment of legislation supporting SCA standardized requirements. Learn more about Smiling Hearts and get involved by visiting us www.nickblakelyfoundation.org, Twitter @NickBlakelyFDN, or Facebook.com/nickblakelyfoundation. |
Hatters Pitcher Honors Late Friend By Wearing No. 37
Stetson University Baseball | March 08, 2018 | Lana Kaczmarek - Class of 2019 http://gohatters.com/news/2018/3/8/baseball-hatters-pitcher-honors-late-friend-by-wearing-no-37.aspx  |
SafeBeat Collaborates with Smiling Hearts: The Nick Blakely Foundation
SafeBeat Collaborates with Smiling Hearts: The Nick Blakely Foundation to Provide Sudden Cardiac Awareness, Preventative Heart Screening, and CPR/AED Education
SafeBeat provides “free” preventative heart screenings to active middle and high school youth along with a CPR and AED education component to their program that plays a significant role in saving lives. SafeBeat also collaborates with local pediatric institutions to supply post-screening care to children no matter the level of insurance they may have. “SafeBeat looks forward to working closely with Smiling Hearts to further develop life-saving education, advocacy of sudden cardiac death prevention, and provide preventative heart screening across the Greater Atlanta area and beyond,” said Sheldon Hill, Executive Director of SafeBeat. Smiling Hearts: The Nick Blakely Foundation At Smiling Hearts: The Nick Blakely Foundation, our vision is to turn every potential tragedy of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) into a story of survival. We believe this is possible by advancing overall awareness to young athletes, parents, and coaches, providing youth with access to preventative heart screenings, implementing training standards and safety protocols in athletic associations and educational institutions, and advocating for the establishment of legislation supporting SCA standardized requirements. Learn more about Smiling Hearts and get involved by visiting us www.nickblakelyfoundation.org, Twitter @NickBlakelyFDN, or Facebook.com/nickblakelyfoundation. About SafeBeat SafeBeat is a national initiative that establishes “free” local heart screenings, heart health education and emergency action planning programs in an effort to directly target three major long-standing epidemics in America’s youth: sudden cardiac death, hypertension, and obesity. SafeBeat collaborates with local hospitals, medical professionals, schools, individuals and businesses to allow them to bring the SafeBeat Initiative to communities nationwide to prevent needless deaths and create a healthier generation. Learn more about SafeBeat and get involved by visiting us at www.safebeat.org, Twitter @safebeat4life, Facebook.com/safebeat4life, and Instagram @safebeat4life. CONTACT: Cindy Vees Director of Public Relations & Communications SafeBeat cvees@safebeat.org www.safebeat.org Ryan Brown Executive Director Smiling Hearts: The Nick Blakely Foundation info@nickblakelyfoundation.org www.nickblakelyfoundation.org |
Gwinnett Citizen: Late Archer High School Student’s Heart Continues to Beat Through His Foundation
 Nick Blakley, was a 19-year-old student Stetson University football player and a 2016 graduate of Archer High School. On Aug. 28, 2017 Nick complained of feeling dizzy during practice. He was sidelined by the coach when he collapsed and later died at the hospital. Unbeknownst to Nick, his family, or his coaches, he had an enlarged heart, which led to SCA, his ultimate cause of death. To read the full article written by Gwinnett Citizen's, Angela Greene, please click here > |
A Florida freshman DB’s career is over after a physical turned up a cardiac ‘abnormality’
Cardiac testing can save lives. We share the story of Randy Russell; a Florida early-enrollee defensive back who recently learned that he would no longer be able to play athletics after a medical evaluation revealed a cardiac “abnormality”. The article also details Nick Blakely's story and explains the importance of not only early detection but establishing protocols and laws around sudden cardiac death awareness. |
Jeremy Nelson and Nick Blakely Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act
On January 25, 2018, the "Jeremy Nelson and Nick Blakely Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act" was introduced to the Georgia General Assembly. The legislative process will take some time; however, we are hopeful that the bill will be signed into law. We will continue to provide updates as we track the bill through the General Assembly. To review the legislation, click the link below. |
ARCHER HIGH SCHOOL TO AWARD THE NICK BLAKELY SCHOLARSHIP
In January, Archer High School in Lawrenceville, GA will announce the award of the Nick Blakely Scholarship to a deserving, graduating senior. Nick was an alumni, attending Archer for all four years of high school. We will provide more details around the award banquet and the award recipient as the date approaches. |
JANUARY 12 – 14, 2018: 13TH ANNUAL NATIONAL HEART TO HEART
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