LA PORTE, Ind. — The Play for Jake Foundation donated $26,000 to the La Porte Community School Corp. for automated external defibrillators, the La Porte Herald-Dispatch reported Sept. 1. The gift continues a county push to keep AEDs ready in schools and public spaces.
Foundation founder Julie West said the money may buy new AEDs, replace units near expiration, or both. Her son Jake West died of sudden cardiac arrest at age 17 on school grounds. She told the Herald-Dispatch the work aims “to help prevent another family from experiencing” the same “devastating loss.”
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Play for Jake → LPCSC | $26,000 for AEDs | Herald-Dispatch, Sept. 1 |
| Jake’s Law | Indiana House Bill 1515, signed by Gov. Mike Braun last year | Herald-Dispatch |
| HFL 2026 AED grants | $71,897 to 15 organizations | HFL |
| Devices awarded (2026) | 34 AEDs, cabinets, and signs | HFL |
| County map | 640+ AEDs on heartsafelpc.com | HFL |
| Since 2017 (HFL) | 344 AEDs/cabinets/signs; >$829,000 | HFL |
| Youth screenings | 3,700+ (two states) | Play for Jake |
LPCSC Superintendent Sandra Wood told the Herald-Dispatch AEDs are expensive and often share expiration windows. A big buy can force a wave of replacements later. Staff still must decide how much goes to new units versus swaps.
Play for Jake’s three pillars (foundation site)
- Heart screenings reviewed with pediatric cardiologists
- AED placements in gyms, stadiums, and first-responder settings
- Advocacy tied to Jake’s Law (HB 1515), which the Herald-Dispatch links to school AED and emergency-plan rules
Health Foundation of La Porte lists LPCSC among 2026 “When Seconds Count” grantees. Partners include La Porte County EMS, E911, the City of La Porte Fire Department, Play for Jake, and the county health department. Other 2026 recipients include Family Advocates, The Collective Events, Westville Police, Long Beach Volunteer Fire, and local churches, clubs, and townships.
West said the foundation has spent a decade on heart-healthy community work, including free screenings that can flag undetected conditions.
For parents and staff
- Know where AEDs hang in each LPCSC building
- Match cabinets and signage to current unit locations
- Keep CPR/AED training current as devices rotate
- Find registered AEDs and classes at heartsafelpc.com
Region News Source had no matching September LPCSC package at draft time. Primary donation detail is from the Herald-Dispatch. HFL and Play for Jake pages supply program totals.
