Sanibel Sea School has successfully raised funds to equip each of the organization’s vehicles and boats with life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The overarching vision of the campaign was to make Sanibel a safer place by having life saving gear readily available in multiple locations each day. Using the crowdfunding platform Mightycause, 82 donors contributed a total of $12,325, exceeding the $11,000 goal.

“It was our education team’s idea to launch this project,” said Development Director Chrissy Basturk. “Each educator is first-aid certified, and while they carry well-stocked first-aid kits at all times, they were concerned about not having the best life saving technology available to them,” she added.

“Nearly 500,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest each year,” said educator Emmett Horvath. “If an AED is readily available, it can mean the difference between life and death for a victim. I hope we never have to use one, but for me, the cost and effort is well worth it to have the ability to save a life if necessary.” Sanibel Sea School’s vehicles are often parked in busy areas around Sanibel, and each vehicle and vessel will be clearly marked to indicate to the public that an AED is accessible on board.

“The community support we have received for this initiative has been nothing short of amazing,” said Basturk. She believes that it was easy for people to see the value in making our islands safer for visitors and residents of all ages. “The donation amounts ranged from $5 to $1,000, which really illustrates how much we can accomplish when we come together to reach a goal. On behalf of Sanibel Sea School, I want to express our deep gratitude to each person who helped.”

Sanibel Sea School is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the ocean’s future, one person at a time. To learn more, visit sanibelseaschool.org