The Project

The Leadership Gilroy Class of 2016 dedicated its community project to advancing public safety and saving lives by supporting Gilroy’s efforts to become a certified HEARTSafe Community. Recognizing that sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, the class focused on increasing community access to hands-only CPR training and expanding the availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) throughout the city.

To raise awareness and engage residents, the class organized the HEARTSafe 5k Run/Walk at the Gilroy Sports Complex. Participants not only enjoyed a family-friendly fitness event, but also received hands-on instruction in CPR and AED use from trained volunteers and members of the Gilroy Fire Department. This combination of education and community involvement helped empower residents with the confidence to act quickly during cardiac emergencies.

Funds raised through the event were used to purchase public-access AEDs for local nonprofit organizations, increasing the number of life-saving devices available in high-traffic community spaces. By expanding CPR knowledge and placing AEDs where they are most needed. The Class of 2016 made a lasting contribution to Gilroy’s emergency-response readiness.

The work strengthened the city’s progress toward HEARTsafe certification and created a foundation for ongoing public-safety education. The project stands as a powerful example of how community leadership can directly improve health outcomes and save lives.