Space Coast Non-Profit ‘Who We Play For’ Partners With National Football League

Part of NFL's Smart Heart Sports Coalition

“Who We Play For,” (WWPF) a non-profit based in Brevard County, recently became a part of the National Football League’s Smart Hear Sports Coalition. In 2007 a lifesaving mission was launched when 15-year-old Rafe Maccarone died on Cocoa Beach High School field playing soccer. Since then, WWPF, led by Evan Ernst, has fought to become one the beacons in the USA for Sudden Cardiac Arrest prevention through Screening.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – “Who We Play For,” a local non-profit based in Brevard County, recently became a part of the National Football League’s Smart Hear Sports Coalition. I had the opportunity to talk with Shawn Sima, the Impact Director of WWPF and asked him to tell me a little bit about WWPF.

Shawn told me, “In 2007 a lifesaving mission was launched when 15-year-old Rafe Maccarone died on Cocoa Beach High School field playing soccer. Since then, Who We Play For, led by Evan Ernst, has fought to become one the beacons in the USA for Sudden Cardiac Arrest prevention through Screening.”

He went on to say, “My daughter Lexi survived Sudden Death because of the research and work of others. Now we fight to give every kid the opportunity to live a long life.   Most families have no idea this happens at least 20 times a day – EVERY Day – until it comes to your community.”

I then asked Shawn about WWPF’s recent partnership with the NFL. He said, “Being selected by the NFL as one of only 37 organizations in the entire nation to be a part of one of the most lifesaving programs in the history of our country is a true honor and a testament to the love and support of our community of Brevard County.  All of this started right here.”

The following is a press release issued by the NFL regarding the Smart Heart Sports Coalition:

As October marked Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, the NFL announced the Smart Heart Sports Coalition has expanded to 37 member organizations.

Founded in March 2023 in response to the life-saving emergency response and care provided to

Damar Hamlin, the coalition seeks to drive the adoption in all 50 states of evidence-based policies that will prevent fatalities from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) among high school students and in school communities.

New members represent parties along the chain of survival essential to recognizing and treating sudden cardiac arrest. Organizations joining the coalition include: Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC); American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM); John Taylor Babbitt Foundation; Citizen CPR Foundation (CCPRF); National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT); National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS); Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society (PACES); Sports Safety International (SSI); Starting Hearts; Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation (Weil Institute) at the University of Michigan; and Who We Play For.

“We’re thrilled these organizations have joined our coalition with the shared goal and commitment of advancing life-saving policies for students in every state,” said Jeff Miller, NFL Executive Vice President of Communications, Public Affairs and Policy.

“These groups will add to the coalition’s impact as we continue to engage in a vigorous, coordinated, and sustained advocacy effort to make school communities safer and more resilient.”

Since the coalition’s outreach and advocacy efforts began, California signed a bill into law that provides the state and its student-athletes robust versions of all three policies promoted by the coalition, and several other states have moved to enact one or more of the evidence-based policies proven to prevent death from SCA, including Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, and New Mexico.

In addition to the expansion of the coalition, Damar Hamlin’s mother, Nina, will serve as the honorary chairwoman of the coalition’s Ambassadors Advisory Council. This new group comprises current and former professional athletes from all sports, as well as other notable figures who will serve as advocates and spokespeople for the coalition’s state-level advocacy. Council members will engage in a range of activities and activations to raise awareness of the crucial policies to prevent SCA-related deaths among students.

“I’m pleased and humbled to accept the invitation to serve in this new role,” said Nina Hamlin.

“This work is another way for me to support Damar’s role as an advocate and his ongoing work off the field to make sure kids across the country have the same access to life-saving care that he did, if and when they need it.”

The NFL Foundation is also providing financial support to the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers campaign. This multi-year initiative is focused on school communities, teaching and training students, educators, and families how to be ready and respond to a cardiac emergency with the life-saving skill of hands-only CPR.

With this additional grant funding, the NFL Foundation has now provided more than $1 million to ensure schools and communities nationwide are better prepared and equipped to save the lives of those who experience SCA.

“This is another important step in our long-standing partnership with the American Heart Association, which also is a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the AHA to make our school communities safer places by teaching students and educators hands-only CPR. Together, we can help build a nation of lifesavers, one student, one school at a time.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia.  He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.

Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018,  Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020 and Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022.

Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.

He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.

The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.

The post Space Coast Non-Profit ‘Who We Play For’ Partners With National Football League appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

Read at the Space Coast Daily