Download Media Packet - Simon`s Fund

Simon’s Fund Backgrounder
A strategic, business-minded and impactful nonprofit organization
History
Simon Sudman was a seemingly healthy three-month old baby boy. He smiled on his 47th day. He died in his
sleep a month later. After being encouraged by their pediatrician to get their hearts checked, Phyllis, Simon’s
mom, discovered a heart condition called Long QT Syndrome. This condition has been linked to up to 15% of
sudden infant deaths (SIDS). It is also one of several conditions that take the lives of thousands of children
every year.
M ission
To save the life of one child . . . and then another, by raising awareness about the warning signs and
conditions that lead to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and death.
Goal
Simon’s Fund wants to change the cardiac standard of care for children in this country. Every child gets
his/her eyes and ears screened in school. They should get their hearts checked too. Recent studies show that
the best method of detection is a physical, medical and family history and an electrocardiogram (ECG).
Strategy
Simon’s Fund believes that preventing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in children requires a four prong “DIRE”
approach. Detection. Innovation. Reaction. Education.
• Detection. The best way to prevent sudden cardiac arrest is to discover the condition before it
strikes. Working with a network of over 75 cardiologists, Simon’s Fund has provided free heart
screenings to 11,000 students throughout the Greater Philadelphia region and around the country.
Approximately 100 students have discovered heart conditions. At the screenings, students receive a
physical exam, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and some receive an echocardiogram (Echo).
• Innovation. There are so many questions and a void of research and resources around the study of
SCA in youth. What is “normal” for a child’s heart? How many children have undetected heart
conditions?
Sim on’s Fund Backgrounder
Page Two
•
•
In response, Simon’s Fund invested over $250,000 to develop HeartBytes, a first-of-its-kind youth
cardiac registry of seemingly healthy kids. This digital platform gathers medical and family history,
murmurs, ECGs and Echos, and makes the de-identified data available to qualified researchers from
any institution and with any viewpoint. This method of gathering data will also streamline the
community heart screening process.
Reaction. SCA can strike at any time. As such, youth facilities and schools must have an emergency
action plan that includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and an automated external defibrillator
(AED). Simon’s Fund teaches students about AEDs and CPR at its youth heart screenings, and
donates AED devices to facilities in need.
Education. Parents, students and coaches need to know that sudden cardiac arrest isn’t just an adult
thing. Pediatricians need to appreciate that fainting during exercise is the #1 warning sign of an
undetected heart condition. Simon’s Fund educates these groups through a variety of initiatives. The
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act, a bill drafted and supported by Simon’s Fund has been
signed into law in eight states and is pending in several others. The bill protects student athletes from
SCA by educating parents, teachers and coaches about the warning signs. Simon’s Fund conducted a
campaign with the PA Chapter of the Am erican Academ y of Pediatrics to place posters in
every pediatric office across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Simon’s Fund hosts an annual
continuing medical education (CME) course called The Heart of Youth Sports that brings together
coaches, athletic trainers, nurses, pediatricians and cardiologists to contemplate the care of student
athletes.
Fundraising
To date, Simon’s Fund has raised close to $2,000,000 through events and corporate sponsorships. Some
notable funders are L’Oreal Paris, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, Independence Blue Cross,
Campus Apartments, Cozen O’Connor, Blank Rome, Ardmore Toyota. Simon’s Fund hosts three annual
fundraisers. Sim on’s Soiree is a gala attended by 500 guests that includes a cocktail hour, sit down dinner,
silent and live auctions, entertainment and the presentation of the Protect this Heart Award. Sim on Says
Golf brings together 100 golfers in July, and is followed by Simon’s Summer Soiree, a party under the stars.
Sim on Says Run is geared toward families and includes a 5K, a Family Walk and the Chain of Survival Relay.
The Relay encourages area high schools to compete against each other in a series of activities required to
save someone in sudden cardiac arrest.
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M edia Contacts
Corie Moskow – [email protected] (215.518.5526)
Ilana Waber – [email protected] (610.256.5012
SIMON’S FUND IS
SAVING THE LIVES OF STUDENTS
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is not just an adult thing.
It takes the lives of thousands of students every year.
It is the #1 cause of death of student athletes.
Simon’s Fund is checking hearts and saving lives.
SEE WHO’S
FEATURED
us
CHECKING HEARTS
PASSING LAWS
RAISING AWARENESS
PROTECTING STUDENT ATHLETES
THESE ARE SOME OF THE KIDS
WHO’S LIVES WE’VE SAVED
For more information, visit simonsfund.org
CHECKING HEARTS AND SAVING
LIVES IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT.
OUR DOCTORS
facebook.com/simonsfund
@simonsfund
HEROES AMONG US
A SON’S
DEATH, A
NEW MISSION
PHYLLIS AND DARREN SUDMAN
HAVE PROVIDED FREE HEART SCREENINGS
TO THOUSANDS OF YOUNGSTERS
TEN YEARS AGO PHYLLIS SUDMAN
56
have been saving lives ever since.
Raising $1 million for their nonprofit
Simon’s Fund (simonsfund.org), Darren and Phyllis—who was named the
2014 L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth
National Honoree—have provided
free screenings for nearly 11,000
kids, uncovering treatable heart defects in about 100. Drew Harrington,
16, of Radnor, Pa., had a 2011 screening that led to lifesaving cor­­rec­tive
surgery. “I feel a connection to that
baby boy,” says Drew, a basket­ball
and tennis player. “I’m just really
thank­ful.” —SANDRA SOBIERAJ WESTFALL
Photograph by DUSTIN COHEN
HAIR & MAKEUP: JESSICA SEGUINE/ZENOBIA; INSET: COURTESY SUDMAN FAMILY
“My first year
grieving
I was angry,” says
Darren of Simon
(right). “Now I’m
grateful for the
time we had.”
placed Simon, her bouncy, smiling
3-month-old, in his crib for a nap.
“He never woke up,” says Phyllis, 43.
Grief-stricken and wanting answers,
she and husband Darren called their
doctor, who told them, “you should
get your hearts checked,” Darren, 44,
recalls. They learned Phyllis had a
congenital heart defect that, untreated, could have stopped her heart,
just as it apparently did Simon’s. “He
saved my life,” Phyllis says. The Sudmans, who have a healthy 12-year-old
daughter, Sally, and son, Jaden, 8,
“Every day I think of
him,” says Phyllis
(holding Simon’s
photo with Darren
at Conshohocken
Elementary School
in Pennsylvania,
with screened kids).
PHYLLIS SUDMAN
NAMED 2014 L’ORÉAL PARIS NATIONAL WOMAN OF WORTH
Recognized for her commitment to community, selflessness and a drive to make a difference
in the world, Phyllis Sudman is a true woman of worth. After the passing of her three
month old son to an undetected heart condition, Phyllis co-founded Simon’s Fund to
raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and death in children. L’Oréal Paris selected
Phyllis from over 4,300 other amazing women to receive this national honor. To date,
Simon’s Fund has provided over 10,000 free heart screenings to students in the Greater
Philadelphia region to help save lives. The award from L’Oréal Paris will allow Simon’s
Fund to continue checking hearts and saving lives.
To learn more or to donate visit simonsfund.org
or email [email protected].
facebook.com/simonsfund
@simonsfund
RAISING AWARENESS
PHILADELPHIA SIX
en Cardiac
The coaches talk about the Sudd
Arrest Prevention Act
BUNDY (NHL)
Chris Therien shares a personal
story and encourages
students to watch for the warn
ing signs.
RONNY TURIAF (NBA)
Ronny talks to students
about his condition and
the importance of heart
screenings.
MIKE MISSANELLI
Mike Miss talks
Broadcasting live from Simon Says Golf,
es.
athlet
and
SCA
to his listeners about
Students don’t listen to grown-ups, unless they are famous. Simon’s Fund partner with sports
figures to educate students about sudden cardiac arrest and death. Live broadcasts, public
service announcements, videos and interviews are all effective ways to spread the message.
To learn more visit simonsfund.org or email [email protected].
Featured by these media outlets
facebook.com/simonsfund
Recognized by these institutions
@simonsfund
IN THE MEDIA
MORNING JOE
Feb 2015 - Phyllis Sudman and
Mika Brzezinski
DR. OZ
Feb 2015 - Dr. Oz, Melissa Fair,
Phyllis Sudman and Darren Sudm
an
WALL STREET JOURNA
L LIVE
Feb 2015 - Tanya Rivero,
Julianne Moore and Phy
llis Sudman
THE VIEW
Feb 2015 - Rosie Perez,
Phyllis Sudman and Whoopi Goldberg
Raising awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and death in children is at the core of the
Simon’s Fund mission. The founders, Phyllis and Darren Sudman, are incredibly adept at
engaging celebrities and influencers to help educate the public. Simon’s Fund has become the
go-to organization for compelling stories and credible facts.
To learn more visit simonsfund.org or email [email protected].
Featured by these media outlets
facebook.com/simonsfund
Recognized by these institutions
@simonsfund
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
isn’t just an adult thing
When a student collapses and dies unexpectedly, it could be from an undetected
heart condition. Sudden cardiac arrest kills 400,000 adults every year and takes
the lives of thousands of children too.
IT IS THE #1 CAUSE OF DEATH
OF STUDENT ATHLETES.
HEART ATTACK
ccurs
attack o
A heart
to
od flow
when blo
d.
is blocke
the heart
o
n t
robably
This is p
a
rit when
the culp
s and
e
s
p
a
coll
student
dies.
VS
CARDIAC ARRES
T
Sudd e n
cardiac
arrest
occurs
when t
h e h ea
stops b
rt
eating
sudden
a n d un
ly
expect
edly, us
from a
u
ally
n un d e
rlying h
conditio
e
a
rt
n.
TYPES OF CONDITIONS
WARNING SIGNS
AINTING OR SEIZURES
1. F
DURING EXERCISE
IZZINESS
4. D
2. UNEXPLAINED
SHORTNESS OF BREATH
6. UNEXPLAINED DEATH
OF FAMILY MEMBER
(UNDER 50)
HEST PAINS
3. C
STRUCTURAL
ELECTRICAL
XTREME FATIGUE
5. E
An electrical condition
interrupts the heart’s
rhythm. There may
be an extra “circuit”
causing it to beat
too rapidly.
A structural problem
leaves the heart unable
to function properly.
A valve may be in the
wrong place or the
heart may be enlarged.
some Athletes with heart conditions
ISAIAH AUSTIN
THOMAS HERRION
LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE
DANA VOLLMER
Marfan Syndrome
Hypertrophic
Cardiomyopathy
Wolff-Parkinson
White Syndrome
Long QT Syndrome
For more information, visit simonsfund.org
facebook.com/simonsfund
RICH PEVERLEY
Catecholaminergic
Polymorphic Ventricular
Tachycardia (CPVT)
@simonsfund
SUDDEN CARDIAC
ARREST IS THE #1
KILLER OF STUDENT
ATHLETES.
4
3
1
2
6
THESE ARE A FEW OF
THE STUDENT ATHLETES
THAT DIED FROM SCA
LAST YEAR. THEY’LL
NEVER HAVE THAT
ONE SHINING MOMENT.
THEY’LL NEVER TRAVEL
DOWN THE ROAD
TO THE FINAL FOUR.
7
1. Bryson Salem (18) Walled Lake, MI
2. Maxwell King (14) Fairfield, OH
3. Kalonyea Wopea (17) Newhope, MN
In 2012, Simon’s Fund traveled to Atlanta, host city
of the NCAA Final Four, to conduct a youth heart
screening. This began our annual tradition of a
Final Four heart screening. While the world is
watching the greatest amateur athletes, Simon’s
Fund hopes to dedicate a bit of the conversation
to cardiac awareness and the prevention of
sudden death.
5
9
4. Albert Martin (17) Little Silver, NJ
5. Josh Davis-Joiner (17) Grafton, WI
6. Forrest Varney (17) Spokane, MO
7. Cody Sherrell (14) La Center, WA
8
8. Terron Jones (17) Johnson, NE
10
FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL
[email protected]
9. Jeremy Nelson (12) Buford, GA
10. Adam Smith (16) Buford, GA
A NATIONAL
MOVEMENT TO
CHECK HEARTS
AND SAVE LIVES
There are over fifty
organizations in the United
States engaged in youth heart
screenings. In 2014, Simon’s
Fund launched Screen Across
America to bring awareness to
this national movement. From
the efforts of this consortium,
approximately 100,000 students
receive heart screenings every
year.
For more information, visit screenacrossamera.org
Sudden
Cardiac
Arrest
isn’t just an
adult thing.
It kills thousands of children
every year and is the #1 cause
of death of student athletes.
Watch out for the warning signs:
1. F
ainting or seizures during
exercise or stressful situations
2. Shortness of breath
3. Unusually rapid heart rate
4. Chest pains
5. Dizziness
6. Extreme fatigue
7. U
nexplained death of family
member under age of 50
www.simonsfund.org
SIMON’S FUND
checking hearts, saving lives
(of students and big furry mascots)
Kyle McCabe
Melissa Fair
Jake Berman
Alaysia Keeley
SIMON’S
CLUB
So, you’re thinking about getting
your heart checked? Good
idea. We did, and we were really
surprised by what happened next.
We’re one in a hundred - the
one out of every 100 students
that find a heart condition.
Fortunately, our conditions are
detectable and treatable. Now,
we belong to this group called
Drew Harrington
Valerie Krawitz
Katie Asper
Whitney Jones
Simon’s Club. Our lives have been
changed by a heart screening and
You can read more about our stories at simonsfund.org/simons-club
or contact us at [email protected]
its time for us to give back and
raise awareness.