Protecting One Young Heart at a Time 11th Annual Golf Classic June 13th, 2019
The mission of Protecting One Young Heart at a Time, Frank J. Reali III Foundation is to spare parents the grief of the loss of a child due to Sudden Cardiac Death. Long term, The Foundation envisions that its free screenings will become part of the mandatory physical in all schools.
Protecting One Young Heart at a Time Frank J. Reali III Foundation accomplishes its mission by committing to telling a profound story as a life-lesson for others. They work with schools and hospitals to provide free heart baseline testing for children. A CNN study from 2007 revealed that 400,000 males and females aged 40 and under were killed by sudden cardiac death. Their goals involve stopping this trend long before today’s children reach age 40.
“The foundation believes that schools are not going far enough. Although physical examination including cardiac auscultation is already required of students participating in team sports under the auspices of the NYC Public School Athletic League, this approach could miss cardiac abnormalities that can predispose to sudden cardiac death.” according to founder Fran Reali.
Protecting One Young Heart at a Time’s core objective is to promote the use of electrocardiograms and screening echocardiograms. Their results will enable physicians to detect rhythm disturbances of the heart, as well as abnormalities of size, thickness, and function of the left ventricle, aortic valve, and aorta. The presence of these conditions could result in catastrophic clinical deterioration caused by severe exertion associated with competitive sports. Participation in the screening program is entirely optional and will be at no cost to those who elect to participate.
The Foundation’s inspiration was born when founders Frank and Fran Reali’s dear son, Frank, died suddenly of an undiagnosed cardiac disease. His story is a beacon that guides this organization and has shined a light on the preventable problem of sudden cardiac deaths. The pilot programs and events of the Protecting One Young Heart At A Time Foundation on Staten Island, NY, have attracted much attention and support, both financial and services oriented. Hopefully, it will serve as a model for the establishment of similar programs throughout all local high schools. seventeen successful fundraisers since our foundation’s launch. Our first fundraiser enabled us to embark on our first testing facility for incoming high school freshmen. Twenty hospitals (which includes Staten Island University Hospital, Richmond University Medical Center and Kiwanis International) and many physicians have partnered with us to offer echocardiogram and electrocardiogram testing to the young men and women contemplating sports. In one small study of 600 children at Schneider’s Children Hospital, a heart problem was revealed in 3 out of every 100 children tested. There are educational programs for students, parents, and primary care physicians to familiarize them with the signs and symptoms of cardiac disease and the benefits of screening. The goal of Protecting One Young Heart at a Time is to inform the public nationwide.
join the Frank J. Reali III Foundation’s 11th annual golf classic, “Protecting One Heart at a Time,” tee off on Thursday, June 13th at the Grand Oaks Country Club in Huguenot, Staten Island. Registration is 11:30 a.m.; shotgun start at 1 p.m. Snacks on the turn, a buffet dinner, fun holes, and great giveaways will be on hand to benefit a much-needed program for children. The tab: $200 per golfer; $100 Dinner only. Call 718-420-2331 to purchase tickets or email: Realifoundation@aol.com