Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation (GGF), a non-profit dedicated to promoting Hands-Only CPR and AED education, awareness, and training is thrilled to announce it has received a $21,000 grant from the Joe and Mary Wilson Community Benefit Fund of Mary Washington Hospital Foundation This generous grant will expand our ability to empower individuals to take action and save lives.
The announcement comes during Heart Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about cardiovascular health and the importance of early intervention during cardiac emergencies.
Funding from the Joe and Mary Wilson Community Benefit Fund will directly advance three core areas GGF’s mission: Hands-Only CPR and AED Training, placement of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), and community awareness.
Sudden cardiac arrest remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring each year, according to the American Heart Association. Performing CPR, especially immediately after someone suffers sudden cardiac arrest, can double or triple their chance of survival. Through this grant, GGF will continue building a Culture of Action by equipping individuals with education, confidence, and tools to respond when seconds matter most.
“We are deeply grateful to the Joe and Mary Wilson Community Benefit Fund and the Mary Washingtonton Hospital Foundation for their unwavering commitment to the health and safety of our community,” said Jennifer Griffin, president and co-founder of Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation. “Every person trained and every AED placed increases the chance that someone in our community survives a cardiac emergency.”
With this funding, GGF will:
- Train at least 1,000 residents in Hands-Only CPR and AED use
- Place up to 12 AEDs in strategic public locations, with priority placement in rural and high need communities
- Increase community awareness through outreach and educational events both in English and Spanish
The program will serve Fredericksburg City and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford, with emphasis on communities facing barriers to healthcare access.
“This funding allows us to reach communities where every second counts,” Veronica Gutierrez, Executive Director of Operations and Community Engagement for Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation. “When neighbors are trained and AEDs are accessible, survival is no longer left to chance.”
Through this ongoing partnership with Mary Washington Hospital Foundation, Gwyneth’s Gift continues working toward increasing survival outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest across the region.
About Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation
Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to saving lives through education and action. Founded in honor of Gwyneth Griffin, The Foundation focuses on raising awareness and training of Hands-Only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to prevent tragic incidents and empower communities to respond effectively in emergency situations. To learn more, visit https://gwynethsgift.org.
About Mary Washington Hospital Foundation
Mary Washington Hospital Foundation supports the mission of Mary Washington Healthcare by securing philanthropic resources that enhance healthcare access, quality, and innovation across the region. The Foundation partners with community organizations, donors, and healthcare leaders to fund vital programs, advanced medical technology, and community health initiatives that improve the well-being of individuals and families throughout Fredericksburg and the surrounding counties. To learn more, visit, https://www.marywashingtonhealthcare.com/foundations/community-benefit-fund/
