The Power of AEDs

Through the AED Donation Program, the Foundation has provided over 450 AEDs to schools, sports facilities, public places, nonprofits, and in law enforcement vehicles throughout Southern Arizona since 2009.

Apply for an AED

Save a Life with CPR

Each day in the United States, nearly 1,000 lives are lost to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Double the chance of survival from an SCD attack by learning the 3 C’s of chest-compression-only CPR.

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Image Source: Tennis Channel

What is an AED?

An automated external defibrillator (AED), is a computerized medical device. An AED checks a person’s heart rhythm, recognizes whether a shock is required, and administers a shock if needed.

An AED uses voice prompts, lights, and text messages to tell the rescuer the steps to take. AEDs are very accurate and easy to use. With a few minutes of training anyone can learn to operate an AED safely.

If more people are trained and respond, we can save thousands of lives.

Lance Becker, MD

Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, American Heart Association Spokesperson

What are the laws surrounding AEDs?

The Community AED Act (2000), authorized the expenditure of funds to establish public access defibrillation programs. Communities receiving grants would purchase and place AEDs in public places where cardiac arrests are likely to occur.

The Cardiac Arrest Survival Act (2000) directed the federal government to issue guidelines for the placement of AEDs in federal buildings and extended the “Good Samaritan” protections to those both using and purchasing AEDs.

The AED Donation Program

In an unparalleled move to prevent avoidable deaths from sudden cardiac arrest, the Gootter-Jensen Foundation has provided over 450 AEDs to schools, sports facilities, public places, nonprofits, and in law enforcement vehicles throughout Southern Arizona since 2009.

Our long-term goal is to make sure that all the places where people work, worship, and play will have an AED in case it is ever needed.

To receive an AED at your facility or venue, please download and fill out the application below. Please note that at this time the AED Donation Program is limited to nonprofit organizations in Southern Arizona and tennis facilities nationwide.

Apply for an AED—Southern Arizona Nonprofits Apply for an AED—Tennis Facilities

It is so reassuring to know that we’ve got this essential piece of medical equipment on site now.

Thanks so much to the Steven M Gootter Foundation for donating the AED to the Fox Tucson Theatre. What a great and important gift for all of our patrons!

Craig Sumberg

Executive Director of Fox Tucson Theatre

No one can control when an emergency arises, but our ability to be able to reach for an AED may mean the difference between life and death of one of our students, a teacher, a parent, or visitor to our campus.

The Saint Augustine Catholic High School community is very honored and grateful to the Gootter Foundation for its recent donation of an AED to our school. We are not only thankful for the donation, but for the love and attention from the Foundation to train our staff to not simply react, but rather to respond quickly to an emergency that would require an AED. We are truly blessed!

Lynn Cuffari

Principal at Saint Augustine Catholic High School

The Gootter Foundation opened the door, increased awareness and made the community receptive and supportive of our need to be prepared.

The first AED was a stepping stone. Receiving it at my high school made others aware and we were able to apply to the school for funding to get another one. Additionally, the two other High Schools in the district were able to get approval for an AED.

Juan F. Prieto

Head Athletic Trainer at Amphitheater Public Schools

I now have peace of mind that I have the right equipment on hand in the nurses’ office with the number of students and staff in our school.

It is so wonderful to have the AED on property. I appreciate everything the Gootter Foundation has done to facilitate getting us our AED.

Margaret Eller, RN

School Nurse at Sunnyside Unified School District

Having the ability to possibly save the lives of our theater patrons who are at risk for sudden cardiac death is of crucial benefit…

…We are very happy to help further the mission of the Foundation. Thank you for your generous support to our organization and for your commitment to the community.

Clyde W. Kunz, CFRE

Chief Development Officer of Arizona Theater Company

We are very grateful not only for your generosity, but for increasing the likelihood of saving someone’s life who needs immediate assistance while on our campus.

Julie A. Sherrill, Ph.D.

Principal of Sunrise Drive Elementary School

In the name of our whole community, I express deepest gratitude for this outstanding gift.

Our heartfelt thanks to you and your associates for the gift of the AED to St. Frances Cabrini. We have our share of older people among the 2,000 members of our parish. But I know the AED is meant for people of all ages. It is with a sense of gratitude and satisfaction as we determine placement and proceed with training.

Msgr. Robert D. Fuller

St. Frances Cabrini Parish

It is a gift we hope to never have to use, but find comfort in knowing that we have this life saving machine at arm's length.

We cannot begin to express our thanks for making it possible for San Miguel High School to be equipped with and trained on our very own automated external defibrillator. Your support is very much appreciated and we are humbled that you have made this available to us.

Leslie Shultz-Crist & Br. Nick Gonzales, FSC

President & Principal of San Miguel High School

AED Donation Program Recipients

Adobe Bridge Club
Amphitheater High School (2)
Amphitheater Middle School (2)
Andrada Polytechnic High School
Arizona Historical Society
Arizona Public Media
Assistance League of Tucson
ATC (Arizona Theater Company)
BASIS Tucson North High School
Beat Cancer Boot Camp
Benson High School
Biosphere (2)
Bisbee High School
Borderlands Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Boy Scouts of America—Catalina Council
Boys & Girls Club of Bisbee
Boys & Girls Club of Sierra Vista
Buena High School (3)
Canyon Del Oro High School (2)
Caridad Community Kitchen
Casa de los Ninos
Catalina Foothills High School (3)
Catalina High School
Center of Opportunity (3)
Cholla High School (2)
Cienega High School (3)
City of Tucson—Tucson Police Department (100)
Clinica Almstad
Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona (Nogales)
Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona (Marana Resource Center)
Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
Congregation Anshei Israel
Congregation Beit Simcha
Congregation Chaverim
Conquistadors Youth Golf Fund dba The First Tee
Coronado K-8 School
Cornerstone Christian Academy
Cross Middle School
Desert Christian High School
Desert Son Community Church
Desert View High School (3)
Dietz Elementary School
Doolen Middle School
Douglas High School
Downtown Tucson Partnership (3)
Drachman Elementary School
Elizabeth Ann Seton School
Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse (4)
Empire High School
Faith Tabernacle
Fenster School of America
First Tee
Flowing Wells High School
Fourth Avenue Merchants Association (2)
Fox Tucson Theatre
Gospel Rescue Mission (2)
Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Gridley Middle School
Green Fields Country Day School
Gospel Rescue Mission (2)
Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Gridley Middle School
Green Fields Country Day School
Hollinger Elementary School
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
Integrative Touch
Ironwood Ridge High School
Jewish Community Center
Jewish Community Center—Sarver Tennis Center
Jewish Family & Children’s Services
Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona
Jewish History Museum
Jim Reffkin Tennis Center
Joyce Clark Middle School Sierra Vista
Keeling Elementary School
La Cima Middle School
Lapin Sunshine Foundation
Leman Academy of Excellence Marana
Literacy Connects
Magee Middle School
Manzanita Elementary School
Marana High School (2)
Marana Police Dept (26)
Maxwell Elementary School
McCorkle Elementarty School
Mica Mountain High School
MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art)
Mount Calgary Baptist Church
Mountain View High School
Nogales High School Athletics (2)
Northwest YMCA
Orange Grove Middle School
Oro Valley Dolphins
Oro Valley Lacrosse Club
Oro Valley Police Dept. (34)
Our Lady of Fatima
Palo Verde High Magnet School
Pima Council on Aging
Pima County Sheriffs Dept. (51)
Pister Middle School
Primavera Foundation
Pueblo High School (3)
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy (2)
Pusch Ridge High School (2)
Rialto Theatre
Rincon/University High School (2)
Rogue Theatre
Ronald McDonald House Charities of So. Az. (2)
Rose Elementary School
Sabercat Lacrosse Inc.
Sabino High School
Sahuaro High School Athletic Dept.
Sahuarita Green Valley 49ers Youth Football
Sahuarita High School
Sahuarita Police Department (12)
Saint Michael’s School (2)
Saint Peter and Paul Salpointe Catholic High School (5)
Salvation Army Hospitality House
San Miguel Catholic High School
Santa Cruz High School
Santa Rita High School
Sarver Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program
Secrist Middle School
Sister Jose Women’s Center
Sonoita Hills Community Church
Southside Presbyterian Church
Sporting Chance Center (2)
St. Augustine Catholic High School
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
St. Francis Cabrini Church
St. Pius X Church
St. Thomas the Apostle Parish
Sunnyside High School (3)
Sunrise Drive Elementary School
Tanque Verde High School
Temple Emanu-El
The Gregory School (4)
The Haven
THA (Tucson Hebrew Academy) (2)
The Loft Cinema
The Marshall Foundation (2)
Therapeutic Riding of Tucson TROT
TMA (Tucson Museum of Art)
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association
Tucson Aztecs Soccer Club
Tucson Boys & Girls Clubs (13)
Tucson Children’s Museum
Tucson Country Day School
Tucson Firefighters Association (2)
Tucson Magnet High School (3)
Tucson Senior Softball League
Tucson Soccer Academy
Tucson Urban League
Tucson Village Farm
Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson
University Community Church
University of Arizona Hillel
University of Arizona Sarver Molecular
Cardiovascular Research Program
Utterback Middle School
Vail Academy & High School
Vail Middle School
Valley Union High School
Veritas Academy
“Visit Tucson” Visitor’s Center
Wakefield Middle School
Willcox High School
Wilson K-8 School
Youth On Their Own
YMCA Aquatic (Lohse Family Center, Ott Center, Lighthouse) (3)
YMCA of So.AZ. Ott Branch
Yuma Union High School

Contact Us

P.O. Box 64583
Tucson, AZ 85728-4583