More Than $20,000 Raised for Saving Lives Matter 2024
by James Coulter
Despite the fundraiser being postponed due to inclement weather, Saving Lives Matter raised more than $20,000 to help donate and install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) across Polk County.
Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation (CCF) hosted its fourth annual Saving Lives Matter fundraiser last November at Tanner’s Lakeside in Winter Haven. The event included live music performed by several local bands and musicians, along with 50/50 raffles and silent auctions.
Saving Lives Matter was originally going to be hosted in September; however, the fundraiser was inevitably postponed due to Hurricane Milton. Despite the rescheduling, the event drew in hundreds of attendees and raised more than $20,000.
Proceeds will go toward helping CCF achieve its goal of donating and installing AEDs across the county, as well as helping finance scholarships for students seeking to become firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
Melanie Brown Culpepper, CCF founder, was pleasantly surprised by the turnout and proceeds. She owed its overall success to the community for supporting her and her cause.
“I would like to thank all who made this possible,” she wrote. “To each and every one of you who helped…it all helps. It takes a village to do this and if we save one person’s life, this is all worth it as Saving Lives Matter.”
Melanie started her non-profit organization more than four years ago following the untimely passing of her fiancée, Michael Culpepper, who had suffered cardiac arrest.
Not wanting anyone else to suffer a similar fate, Melanie started CCF. Since then, her organization has donated more than 50 AEDs across the county to businesses like Tanner’s Lakeside.
Terica Keene has been a close friend of Melanie and Michael. In fact, she was present to place a life vest on Michael before he passed. Having supported Melanie since day one, she never hesitated to help however she could.
“I knew what she was doing was a great thing, and if one life could be saved, then it was all worth it,” she said. “I have always enjoyed helping others and giving back to our community.”
As for the recent fundraiser, she was likewise impressed by the proceeds and turnout despite the sudden schedule change.
“Despite having to change the date due to the hurricanes and the event being Thanksgiving weekend, we all worked hard to pull it together and had a very successful event.”
Likewise, Kelley Harris has known Melanie for 15 years. Her husband, Jay, also suffered and passed from a heart attack during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, she knows the importance of life-saving devices like AEDs, which is why she has been a supporter of CCF.
“We were onboard with this since the beginning to help with this due to it being close to our hearts [because] we understood the importance of AEDs being available in case of a cardiac emergency,” she said.
In fact, to help honor her husband, Kelley has requested that an AED be placed at the Eagle Lake Diner. Being able to support local businesses like this makes her support more worthwhile.
“What I enjoy most about helping with these events is the gratitude I have knowing that we can and will save lives with these AEDs,” she said. “I now feel the need to continue to be a part of this amazing organization and hope that if we can save even one life with an AED that we have raised at these events, then it is so worth it.”
