Community Press Release
Foxborough had the highest participation rate of students participating in the Boston ECG Project
The Partners in Patriotism Fund awarded Foxborough Public Schools with a grant of $5,250 to provide no cost ECG screenings from the Boston ECG Project to Foxborough High School and Ahern Middle School students.
The program aims to uncover undetected cardiac conditions that may result in sudden cardiac death, or other long-term health issues.
“Foxborough had the highest participation rate in the state to date with 361 students screened,” said Foxborough Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Alison Mello. “This grant helps the ECG Project in its goal of screening 10,000 students in the state by subsidizing the cost.”
Through the PIP Fund grant, the schools were able to offer the screenings at no cost to students and fund the use of the equipment and trained nurses to administer the screenings.
Cynthia Glennon, clinical director for the Boston ECG Project, said the nonprofit organization is conducting a large academic clinical data study in Massachusetts with the hope that data will show a need to change state legislation to include ECG screenings as part of student wellness checks in schools.
Dr. Mello said Foxborough schools became aware of the ECG Project after the district’s nurses attended a professional development session last October, which led to a meeting between Mello, Foxborough Schools Superintendent Dr. Amy Berdos and Dr. John B. Cadigan III and his team from the Boston ECG Project.
“They explained their study, shared examples of preventable sudden cardiac death and outlined how their screenings detect issues such as cardiac abnormalities that could become problematic, but also other conditions such as hypertension, that when addressed, can be mitigated,” said Dr. Mello. “It was great to participate in the program and we hope this study leads to major changes in the annual physical process for children.”
ABOUT THE PARTNERS IN PATRIOTISM FUND
The Partners in Patriotism Fund is a registered nonprofit organization established by the Kraft family in 2014. The Fund is dedicated to supporting Foxborough philanthropic and community efforts through monetary donations of up to $100,000 annually. A Grants Committee, comprised of Foxborough residents, is appointed annually to vet grant applications and determine allocation of funds. The Fund assists residents of Foxborough through the support of charitable endeavors, as well as through personal financial assistance. For more information, visit www.GilletteStadium.com/Partners-in-Patriotism.