Key Takeaways 📌
- Farm Bureau Insurance and Sports Image® have equipped well over 100 Michigan school districts with fully automatic AEDs through their OPERATION AED Program
- The partnership gained additional urgency following Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest on January 2, 2023, during Monday Night Football
- Sports Image® has distributed over $1.5 million in cash and over $15 million in equipment to schools nationwide since 2002
- The program uses fully automatic AEDs requiring minimal training, allowing school staff to respond effectively in cardiac emergencies
- The initiative is expanding beyond Michigan with plans to increase program visibility nationwide
Youth Sports Industry Takeaway
- Corporate partnerships providing critical safety equipment to school athletic programs
- Insurance company community investment creating safer environments for student athletes
- Nationwide expansion potential for similar safety equipment partnerships
A Partnership Strengthened by Urgent Need
A little over a year after Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan and Sports Image® joined forces through the OPERATION AED Program, their partnership has grown stronger and expanded reach across the state. The program donates fully automatic Automated External Defibrillators to school districts throughout Michigan, representing a vital step toward enhancing community safety.
The initiative gained additional urgency following the widely publicized cardiac incident of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin on January 2, 2023, during a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals.Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after making a tackle and collapsed on the field, requiring immediate CPR and defibrillation to restore his heartbeat. This incident highlighted the critical need for immediate access to life-saving equipment in athletic settings.
Program Growth and Community Impact
Quick Take: The OPERATION AED Program has steadily increased its impact over the past year.
Farm Bureau Insurance has remained committed to supporting the health and safety of Michigan’s students, faculty, and staff. With support from Sports Image®, the program now delivers AEDs to well over 100 Michigan school districts across the state.
“These devices save lives, and our mission hasn’t wavered,” said Lisa Fedewa, Advertising Engagement Specialist at Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan. “We are proud to see this partnership thrive and grow. By continuing to provide AEDs to schools across Michigan, we’re investing in the safety of our communities and making sure help is always nearby in the event of an emergency.”
The AEDs provided through the program are fully automatic and designed with user-friendly technology, allowing even those with limited training to respond quickly and effectively in a cardiac emergency. Each device represents a critical tool in protecting lives until professional medical personnel arrive.
Technology Designed for Emergency Response
Quick Take: Fully automatic AEDs remove training barriers while maintaining life-saving effectiveness.
The program’s selection of fully automatic AEDs addresses a key challenge in emergency response: the need for immediate action without extensive training requirements. These devices analyze heart rhythms and deliver shocks automatically when needed, eliminating the decision-making burden on school staff during high-stress situations.
This technology choice allows coaches, teachers, and other school personnel to become effective first responders immediately upon device installation. The user-friendly design ensures that help can be provided quickly in cardiac emergencies, which is critical since survival rates decrease significantly with each passing minute.
Sports Image® Track Record and Expansion Plans
Quick Take: The partnership builds on Sports Image®’s established history of supporting schools nationwide.
Sports Image® was founded in 2002 in Dayton, Ohio, with the purpose of helping high schools and other grassroots organizations obtain state-of-the-art equipment and revenue for their athletic programs. To date, Sports Image® has given over $1.5 million in cash and over $15 million in equipment to schools and organizations throughout the United States and Canada.
“Lisa and fellow Farm Bureau agents continue to express enthusiasm in the Operation AED partnership as we look to increase the viability and visibility of this innovative program in Michigan… and nationwide,” said Eric Horstman, President of Sports Image®. The company also founded and manages the Beacon Orthopaedics Flyin’ to the Hoop H.S. Basketball Invitational, a nationally ranked high school basketball event.
Thanks to the dedication of Farm Bureau Insurance Agents statewide, more Michigan schools are receiving the tools they need to be better prepared. With momentum building, the program is set to continue expanding in the year ahead.
School Districts and Agents Leading the Way
Quick Take: Individual Farm Bureau agents sponsor specific schools, creating personal community connections.
The program operates through individual Farm Bureau Insurance agents who sponsor AED installations at specific schools in their communities. This approach has resulted in AED placements at schools across Michigan, from Anchor Bay High sponsored by agent Liz Jekielek to Zeeland High sponsored by agent Andy Spears.
The comprehensive list includes diverse school districts such as Oxford High, Traverse City East Middle, Monroe High, and many others, each paired with dedicated Farm Bureau agents who facilitated the AED donations. This agent-based model allows for personal community relationships while distributing program implementation across the state.
The Path Forward
The OPERATION AED Program demonstrates how corporate partnerships can address critical safety needs in educational and athletic settings. Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan and Sports Image® have created a sustainable model that provides essential life-saving equipment to schools while building community relationships.
The program’s expansion beyond Michigan suggests potential for replication in other states. As awareness of cardiac emergency preparedness grows, particularly following high-profile incidents like Hamlin’s collapse, similar partnerships may emerge to address safety infrastructure needs in schools nationwide.
For schools interested in getting involved, additional information is available at www.sportsimageinc.com. The partnership continues to demonstrate that community safety investments can create lasting positive impacts, one school at a time.
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VIA: Sports Image Inc
