FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWSRADIO 980 KMBZ AND CLASSICAL 1660 KXTR FORM STRATEGIC
ALLIANCE WITH OLATHE MEDICAL CENTER’S HEARTS
ON PATROL PROGRAM TO RAISE NEARLY $75,000 TO PLACE
HEART DEFRIBILLATORS IN DOZENS OF OLATHE PATROL CARS
CARRABBA’S ITALIAN GRILL HOSTS MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
CELEBRATION WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS
Kansas City, MO –September 1, 2005
OLATHE, KS. – A young man named Adam Utz is
alive today because a caring citizen with a defibrillator
was on-site when he collapsed from sudden cardiac
arrest at a local health club.
The business community, civic leaders and citizens
gathered to hear his story at Carrabba’s Italian
Grill Mission Accomplished celebration luncheon on
September 1, 2005 to demonstrate the importance of
accomplishing the initial goal and to raise even more
funds to fuel expansion for Olathe Medical Center’s
“Hearts on Patrol” (HOP) program.
Andrew Ellenberg of Entercom Broadcasting worked
closely with Lesle Knop, Vice President of Olathe
Medical Center's Charitable Foundation and Kate Eller,
OMC’s Director of Public Relations to spearhead
the media effort by recruiting local sponsors who
agreed to underwrite a targeted promotional campaign
on News Radio 980 KMBZ and Classical 1660 KXTR, two
of the cluster’s most upscale properties in
Kansas City. The high-profile cause related marketing
initiative helped raise just under $75,000 to place
heart defibrillators in patrol cars.
“Our marketing partners at the Olathe Medical
Center, Bank of Blue Valley, KVC Behavioral Healthcare
and Burns Printing helped us deliver this simple but
compelling message to just under 300,000 high net
worth consumers: if an emergency vehicle isn’t
on the scene in minutes, a sudden cardiac arrest victim
cannot survive. “ says Ellenberg. “This
initiative proves that the business community and
individuals will line up behind a life-saving cause
like Hearts on Patrol.”
The community is redoubling its efforts to raise
monies so they can place dozens more Automated External
Defibrillators (AEDs) in Olathe Police Department
patrol vehicles and Spring Hill Police Department
patrol cars.
"As a non-profit organization operating in the
healthcare arena where valuable causes are plentiful
but funds are scarce, it’s encouraging to see
what non-profits, media and private sector businesses
can accomplish when we join forces to reach a common
goal for the citizens of our communities,” said
Renny Arensberg Vice President Marketing and Resource
Development for KVC Behavioral Healthcare in Olathe,
Kansas.
In the event of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) caused
by a potentially fatal heart rhythm, the chance for
survival decreases by seven to 10 percent per minute.
Nationwide, the chance for survival from SCA is less
than seven percent. But, if treatment is administered
within five minutes of the event, survival rates increase
to 50 percent or better. SCA can happen anytime, anywhere,
and at any age. It strikes 1,000 adults every day
in the United States. Annually, approximately 350,000
people in the USA die as a result.
In many parts of the country, police officers are
often the first to arrive at the scene of a medical
emergency. If patrol cars are equipped with AEDs,
the chances that an SCA victim will be treated with
a defibrillator will significantly increase, as will
their chances for survival.
“When asked to support the Hearts On Patrol
drive, we knew it was the right thing to do. Bank
of Blue Valley has a dedicated commitment to our customers
and communities to think beyond today to the needs
of tomorrow. Bank of Blue Valley strives to reach
out at opportunities such as this,” said Bob
Regnier, President Bank of Blue Valley.
For more information about “Hearts on Patrol”
call 913-791-4312. If you would like to make a donation,
please send a check made payable to the Olathe Medical
Center Charitable Foundation, 20333 West 151st Street,
Olathe, Kansas 66061.
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