Highlights from 2022
Thank You!
Our community of supporters continues to grow thanks to you and others like you who want to save lives. Each time you make a donation, share a post on Facebook, tune into a SADS Live, or keep the warning signs in mind to spread awareness, you’re making a tremendous impact!
And we can prove it. Just look at what we’ve been able to accomplish this year, with you on our team:
Brynn Dechert-Crooks, CPNP and member of our Board of Trustees, in our collaborative story with C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
- Partnered with researchers working to develop better treatments – we’re always pushing for progress!
- Developed new storytelling collaborations with medical centers to boost awareness efforts and highlight the families’ voices.
- Initiated a project with the FDA to elevate the voices of people with ARVC and have their experiences help shape priorities in developing new therapies.
- Celebrated our 500th Facebook fundraiser hosted by families and supporters in honor of birthdays, anniversary dates, celebrations, heart month and other milestones. Thanks to you all, we have raised nearly $150,000 just on Facebook over the years.
Genevie Echols joined the SADS staff as our Family Support Director in the spring of 2022.
- Welcomed Genevie Echols as Family Support Director. Genevie is meeting with families one-on-one to offer individualized support as well as spearheading all of our work to strengthen the support available to SADS families.
- Strengthened peer communities like the ICD Support Group, SADS Connect, Young Hearts, and Project Sunshine so families can meet others who get it.
- Launched the new SADS website with a greater focus on providing families with the specific resources and support they need while also equipping medical professionals with important information.
- Marked the 30th anniversary of the SADS Foundation. We hope you’ve enjoyed stories from yesterday, today and tomorrow at SADS. See more from medical experts and families here.
SADS Staff Alice, Erin, and Anna with guests Nora and Annie for our Heart Month episode of SADS Live
- Hosted the 100th SADS Live. Special thanks to Dr. Ackerman for bringing his expertise right to your desktop!
- Introduced SADS families to more top experts worldwide at institutions like Johns Hopkins, the Mayo Clinic, and Duke University Hospital through Living with SADS presentations and conference sessions.
Our fainting PSA billboard in Binghamton, NY.
- Raised awareness for fainting with exercise as the #1 warning sign of SADS conditions. Through billboards, radio PSAs, social media ads, televised stories, and your shares, we reached tens of thousands of people with the life-saving message: “If your kid faints with exercise, talk to their doctor about their heart.”
- Connected with more teens and young people thanks to Gen Z social media ambassadors. On our first Instagram takeover, the questions came flowing in from peers wanting to hear from someone like them.