On Thursday, November 9, Barton Malow hosted its 8th Annual Foundation Clay Shoot to benefit the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Central Florida region.
Within the region, the AHA promotes public health and champions equity by combatting high blood pressure, nutrition insecurity, and tobacco and vaping use in vulnerable communities. Through partnerships with clinics and community organizations, the organization has empowered individuals to measure their blood pressure routinely and accurately. The AHA Community Impact team has also expanded access to nutritious foods available for families in need by implementing much-needed cold storage locally. These initiatives have enacted sustainable health changes at the population level, creating a pathway for a community of longer, healthier lives.
This year’s annual foundation event was held at Blackjack Sporting Clays in Sumterville, Florida, with approximately 132 clay shooters in attendance. The event began with registration, breakfast, a welcome address, and a shotgun start. A raffle was also held at the event featuring prizes from Bass Pro Shop.
Thanks in part to the clay shoot event, the AHA can impact the local community. In Central Florida, the association specifically focuses on creating a nation of lifesavers by teaching everyone hands-only CPR, improving access to healthy foods, controlling high blood pressure, and eliminating tobacco and e-cigarette use.
The accomplishments the AHA has made in Florida for 2023 include:
- 200 Infant CPR Kits donated to local hospitals for NICU parents to learn hands-on CPR.
- 16 CPR in school kits were donated to high schools in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole County so students can learn hands-only CPR.
- 100 girls from under-resourced middle schools will attend STEM Goes Red, a day-long experience to explore and inspire interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields.
- Launching a self-monitoring blood pressure kit program, Libraries with Heart, to meet our community where they are and encourage self-monitoring at home.
- Adoption of healthy nutrition standards in Central Florida food pantries.
- Implementing tobacco and vaping screening and referral to cessation services programs in local Housing Authorities.
For the past 19 years, Barton Malow and its Foundation have been a proud partner of the AHA and participated in the Heart Walk, raising $1,145,911. Barton Malow has also joined forces with the AHA for its annual Go Red Goes STEM and Hard Hats with Heart events. The Barton Malow Foundation was established in 1954 to help build our people, projects, and communities through charitable giving, building, and volunteerism throughout the country in our local communities.
Barton Malow has been building in the Central Florida community since the late 1960s with many notable projects that include the Camping World Stadium renovation, Peppa Pig Theme Park, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Mori Hosseini Student Union, and more. Barton Malow was also recently named Engineering-News Record’s (ENR) 2023 Southeast Contractor of the Year.
The AHA and Barton Malow’s partnership will only get stronger as 2024 marks the centennial year for both organizations. With the continued support of Barton Malow, the association will continue to fuel science and innovation, fund lifesaving research, stand for the rights of patients and caregivers, work with communities, and transcend the way we live, work, and play.
