This is about people who have turned personal tragedy into saving the lives of others. NOTHING could be more heartfelt and honest. Ken would be proud.
I recently found an article on Facebook that talked about your son. My sister lived across from Geneva high school at the time. I grew up in Kingsville but was visiting with my sister (At the time I was living in Cincinnati and was a trauma nurse at an intercity hospital.)
We were leaving to go somewhere when I looked across the street and saw what looked like two people doing CPR. They were doing it so perfectly that my first thought was that they were having a drill of some sort. When I realized it was not a drill, I ran across the street to help the coaches and I too helped try to revive your son.
I am a mom of four boys myself so I thought you would want to know how hard those coaches and myself tried. They really were doing everything right and they were devastated. That was the only moment as a nurse I felt afraid and helpless.
I am do happy and proud that you have gone on to do great things in the name if your son.
I hope I have not upset you by contacting you. I had called the hospital later that day to find out the status, though as a nurse I was pretty sure I already knew the answer. I was terribly saddened to find that he had passed.
So as a mom, thank you for maybe making a difference in someone's life,
Kristy Dubsky
Strongsville, OH
I have had the pleasure of working with founder Linette Derminer of KEN Heart Foundation, for over 6 years. Her guidance and mentorship has enabled us to successfully develop a non-profit foundation in Washington State. Linette's dedication and countless hours of service in memory of her son, Kenneth has without a doubt made a difference in how the medical community views youth heart health. KEN Heart's tireless ability to educate the public about sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in youth and the need for a national SCA database, AED's in all public places, CPR and AED training and most recently youth heart screenings will change public policy. KEN Heart Foundation is a leader in the fight to prevent the devastating effects of SCA in young people and I'm grateful to partner in their efforts.
I have been a volunteer, as well as a friend of the family who dedicates countless hours raising money to provide schools with difibrilaters! KEN (Kids Endangered Now) has worked very hard for years educating and providing schools and family's with items that could save lives! Linette Derminer has a ton of ambition and faith to reach out to others without her and the many family members/ friends helping her out with this non-profit orginasation KEN would not have reached out and touched as many people as they have! Over the years I have seen so many charities whom all work very hard, KEN in my eyes is truly one of the best family orginized team! I can't wait to see the lives that she will forever change in the up coming years!
We approached KEN HEART FOUNDATION not once but twice to donate a defribrillator at Kingsville Area Little League. Both times, they came through for us and now our players, coaches, and spectators can feel safe knowing the equipment is in place to handle and emergency. They give so mush to the area to help and are as pleasant and courteous as can be.
I met Linette and her husband after they hired our company to do some home improvements. I saw how dedicated they are in their foundation. Having a son that was born with congenital heart defects 21 years ago, I admire how they turned their personal loss into a way to reach out to others, and to help prevent the same tragedy from happening to another family.
The KEN Heart Foundation has been a leader in the reduction of fatalities in youth caused by Sudden Cardiac Arrest for many years. Their dedication and tireless efforts speak volumes. Any time I have needed information on Sudden Cardiac Arrest in youth as it applies to sport Linette has been an amazing resource.
I can not say enough about the courageous work being done by the Ken Heart Foundation. The founder, Linnette, was one of the first to reach out to me after the loss of my own son Jonathan. Our son too was living with an undetected heart syndrome whose first warning sign was sudden cardac arrest. Sudden Cardiac Arrest strikes children and youth across our nation everyday and Linette and the KHF were one of the first to start connecting the devasting losses of youth to undetected heart syndromes in a data base which has helped to raise the level of concern and awareness about SCA and youth nationally. With organization like KHF raising awareness, screening kids, and putting defibrillators where our children work and play the tradgies of SCA are reduced. Each time we prevent a death, we honor our own children.
"I think this organization is outstanding and is well worth it. Since it was instilled in 2000 I have watched it grow over the years and will continue to help in anyway possible to see its continued growth. "KEN Heart is commited to saving childrens lives from a sudden cardiac arrest. THEY WORK DILLIGENTLY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AS TO THE WARNING SIGNS OF Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Linette truly understand the sadness a family goes thru from the loss of a child. By supporting KEN Heart, they are able to grow and continue to educate those that have the power to help save a childs life""
I would like to nominate the Ken Heart Foundation because of all the wonderful things the foundation does for families and the community. My mother’s mission started on 6/7/2000 when her son collapsed on the football field during a mini camp. Her son (Kenneth) had an undetected heart defect and passed away that day. Through this tragedy she gathered strength and told her self that she would not let this happen to another family and Kenneth’s death would not be in vain. My mother (Linette Derminer) started doing her own research about heart defects and other families were coming out of the woodwork that the same incidences happed to them. She learned about AED's and how affective they are for revival of a cardiac arrest. She started her own heart foundation; kids endanger now (K.E.N). She hosts her own fundraisers in hopes to raise money so she can place AED’s in schools and athletic groups. One of the biggest highlights of the foundation was that she donated a difbulator to a YMCA and a man went in cardiac arrest and he was revived for that same AED. She is also involved in parent heart watch, which is an organization that helps consol other families who had lost a loved one from a heart defect. My mother deserves some recognition for her great efforts, and I think this would be a wonderful achievement for her. The KEN Heart Foundation is helping to train high school student how to be first responders in CPR and also raising money to give free heart screening to kids who can’t afford the screening.
I have given small donations to the Foundation over the years and I think it is a great foundation. If I could I would have given much more. Ken Heart Foundation is dedicated to prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the local communities... If only they had more funds. How many more could be saved? Every life is precious! Automatic External Defibrillator placement and Cardiac Screening, and CPR training could prevent many unnecessary tragic losses.
As a paramedic in my own home town, i have become very familiar with the importance of training, education, and proper equipment being available. Family members of mine have had cardiac issues just as many other families, but to have a group of people paying such a tribute to there son, friend, family member in order to save the lives of other children and young adults is something needed more then any of us know. Thank you for your dedication to this foundation and cant wait to play the gold outing!!
The Ken Heart Foundation is a great organization and I am proud to be a part of..The goals that this group has set and work so hard at accomplishing is great..The community is benefiting and will continue to do so as many more join us in our efforts to protect the hearts of our youth.Its unfortunately sad when it takes a tragedy to bring something good to life..
It has been a privilege and honor to support KEN Heart and Linette Derminer in the pursuit of offering Cardiac Screenings to the communities that are served by KEN Heart. Over the past several years, Linette has been instrumental in promoting and advocating for the "prevention" of Sudden Cardiac Arrest through Cardiac Screening programs for the youth. She is an inspiration to me and to the Anthony Bates Foundation programs nationwide.
As a board member and volunteer of the KEN HEART Foundation I am proud of what we are accomplishing. After 10 years of creating community support, placing AED's in schools, and raising awareness this organization is going strong. The organization is not just raising awareness but providing valuable tools and education within our community.
The KEN Heart Foundation is committed to serve our community and make necessary changes in the Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) health crisis that is taking young lives. Our programs provide support and strengthen young individuals, families, and the community to respond appropriately to cardiac emergencies. Collaborations between our organization, area businesses, health care professionals and community volunteers provide a larger network for visibility and resources to increase life saving efforts within the community. Our volunteers spend time attending community events to inspire others to take a proactive approach in prevention efforts. Raising awareness and educating the public, about warning signs and risk factors of SCA Defibrillation placement and CPR/AED Training are the best possible response that the public can provide for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The KEN Heart Foundation partnered with University Hospitals Memorial Hospital of Geneva to provide CPR/Defibrillator (AED) training to local school students. We provide defibrillation grants to schools and youth serving organizations. They can apply for a defibrillator donation one time a year. In return, we ask volunteers from the school or organization to assist us as a volunteer with one of our programs or fundraisers. We will provide Cardiac screening to school age children by the end of 2010. There currently is not a process that would allow for non invasive tests that to find risk factors for undiagnosed heart conditions or other conditions that can cause Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Providing tests called EKG's and Echo Cardiograms have proven to be beneficial in the reduction of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)in young athletes in other countries where they are provided. KEN Heart is involved in statistics & research The statistics regarding sudden cardiac arrest in young people vary greatly based on reporting mechanisms and criteria. Currently, there is not a national mandatory reporting system to investigate cases of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in youths. Without this, conflicting reports and statistics are slowing down the process in prevention efforts. We believe a national registry would eliminate conflicts, show the true extent of SCA in youth, validate funding for the prevention efforts of SCA and increase overall survival rates. The issue is greatly minimized when the data only represents some athletes affected. This does not represent the true extent of sudden cardiac death (SCD) amongst all athletes, much less all youth. Most youth participate in some form of sports however, not all youth that suffer a SCA during a sporting event. Some athletes affected are at non athletic events in class, at home or sleeping, these cases are not accounted for in the current data reported. In 2000, The KEN Heart Foundation developed a database of suspected sudden cardiac arrest and deaths of young people from a collection of online articles and family reporting. Criteria are children and young adults under the age of 25, athlete's that are semi pro and pro. We report approximately 150-250 cases annually. Donations to KEN Heart go directly into funding our programs.
Linette Derminer founded the KEN Heart Foundation after the death of her son, due to a sudden cardiac arrest. Any time a family is face with the death of a child its devastating! However Linette channeled her devastation into a mission to prevent other families from feeling the same devastation. If your family has lost a child this is the non-profit organization to contact. KEN Heart offers support, guidance and understanding, and has very useful resources and a pool of professionals in the field to draw from. This group strives to support important research, promote awareness, early detection and prevention of sudden cardiac arrest in children. Donations to this non-profit go directly into supporting their mission to fight the devastating effects sudden cardiac arrest in youths and athletes in their community. I am proud to be a volunteer of such a fabulous organization!
When I lost my Youngest son Travis to a Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Linette Derminer was one of the first people I met. Her work through her foundation (Ken Heart Foundation) inspired me to create a foundation in California to try and emulate what Linette has done. She is truly an inspiration and has made a difference in her community, her state and on a national level.
KEN Heart Foundation is an honest and reliable non-profit organization. They have a great volunteer base of talented and helpful individuals. They are very efficient with their donations and get the most out of every dollar. Their overhead costs and expenses are carefully kept very low to benefit the kids and adults they help.
Altruism: a selfless concern for the welfare of others. Altruism means to give without regard to reward or the benefits of recognition. This organization, Kids Endangered Now (KEN), represents the purest form of altruistic giving. Since the day Linette Derminer began her mission of KEN she has worked tirelessly and selflessly to meet her goal of providing life saving cardiac defibrillator equipment to communities and schools. As a result of her own personal tragedy, the sudden death of her son, Linette recognized that school kids in this country face the risk of death do to a lack of knowledge and resources. She also recognized that our schools, communities, and states were not doing enough to reduce and/or prevent these risks. She made it her life mission to ensure schools have access to automatic cardiac defibrillator devices. She has organized events, fund raisers, marathons, educational offerings and hosts weekly BINGO, (just to name a few things) in order to raise funds to purchase this critical equipment which she in turn donates on behalf of her organization. Linette started this organization not because she would have a direct benefit, she has already suffered the greatest loss imaginable, she did it because she does not want any other parent, grandparent, sister, brother, friend or loved one to lose a child in their life to sudden cardiac arrest. Linette will probably never know the number of lives she is responsible for saving but one saved child makes all the hard work worth it for her. A financial reward to Kids Endangered Now represents an endorsement to lives of children across this country. An endorsement that is urgently needed. There isn't a more altruist cause than this!
This is a wonderful organization that helps save lives from sudden cardiac death. If you have time, please volunteer or donate. Linette Derminer the President and Founder has taught hundreds of other grassroot organizations, like myself, how to start a non profit, should you start one. She had the insight to see that sudden cardiac arrest in kids is not a rare occurence and have saved many lives. She is a great person to know and you will be blessed for meeting her and getting to know Ken Heart Foundation