Project summary

Hi all! I understand this project is significantly different from most I saw posted here on Manifund, thank you for your time, and considering supporting me/my vision!

My project aims to provide zero-cost First-Aid/CPR/AED trainings in Rural Kentucky, via creating a lean-operation framework, and making training accessible to people that it traditionally isn't accessible to.

I am a current undergraduate student at a tiny, private college in rural Kentucky, in a area with EMS response times being commonly delayed. In addition, the area that my college is located is extremely bad off, financially. The average income in the area is ~$41,000/year with a poverty rate of approximately 25.1%, counties, and communities local to the area are in similar positions, and have similar incomes/poverty rates.

(Data Sourced from https://data.census.gov/profile/Whitley_County,_Kentucky?g=050XX00US21235#income-and-poverty)

-The first minutes in a emergency matter, and can make a serious difference in outcomes.

-Training people in First Aid/CPR/AED can create significantly better outcomes with a relatively small amount of time for people to invest to get trained. (Most classes are only a few hours)

-However, in my college community, and local area- there's very few people that are actually trained- a large barrier to getting trained lies in the price, and availability.

At my college- a very large number of students do not have enough extra money to be able to pay to take a class. Most classes in local metropolitan areas resulting in certification is ~$130 per person, and does not include transit to the training centers, or work with a lot of college schedules. Even for the students that could pay to take it, most of the nearest training centers are over 1 or 2 hours away.

(Red Cross CPR/First Aid/AED In Person Class, in Lexington, KY = $130/person).

My project aims to create a solution to provide this necessary, and important training for free to anyone, in a way that can be accessed.

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

1. The project's main goal is to provide FREE, quality first-aid/CPR/AED classes that will result in obtaining a recognized certification, along with making them comfortable, and competent so that they can help if they ever come across a situation requiring it. The current plan for certification is to have Instructors become certified with the National Safety Council, so that they can provide certificates, for a relatively low up-front-cost, along with not being required to be tied to an official training center (most training centers have extreme fees for providing certificates to students).

2. The project's secondary goal is to create a replicable framework that could be copied and implemented at other communities similar to mine.

   The main way this will be achieved is donations, and grants. The most difficult part of the project will be the initial startup, to secure long lasting/high quality training gear, and instructor certifications, along with being able to upkeep the gear. So far, I am struggling to find initial funding due to being a brand new project, along with resources available in my community being extremely lacking.

   Once the project is established and operating, actual operation costs I expect will be extremely low. The gear that will be needed is long-lasting, and will last for several years, with replacement parts being available for most gear I plan on using. My goal is to find local partners that will support the ongoing nature of the project, after seeing results, and that it is functioning well.
   

   As far as the training venues will go- I plan to offer a mix of them on college campus, and off campus in community centers, (frankly, wherever wishes to host one). I plan on attempting to pursue some funding from my college itself, however- I do not think it is a viable method, or will be able to start/sustain the project, especially as it will restrict my methods of fundraising, and most campus organizations receive $250-1000 per year in funding, and has much more requirements for it.

How will this funding be used?

This funding will be directly used to purchase supplies, train instructors for immediate startup, and provide a small general operating fund.

Here's a list of some of the gear that will be needed, and purchased, but as the project starts, and expands, I fully anticipate random/surprise costs that will be incorporated into a small operating budget.

Needed gear (links to products, at reputable vendor), to establish pricing.

4 Adult CPR Manikins ($260/each * 4 = $1040) https://www.boundtree.com/training-simulation/manikins/prestan-professional-adult-series-2000-manikin-with-advance-cpr-feedback/p/group006203?searchText=cpr%20manikin%20with%20feedback

4 Infant CPR Manikins ($492 for 4 pack) https://www.boundtree.com/training-simulation/manikins/prestan-infant-ultralite-manikin-diversity-kit-with-cpr-feedback/p/3611-40418?searchText=cpr%20manikin%20with%20feedback

4 Pack of AED Training Units ($482 for 4 pack) https://www.boundtree.com/monitoring-diagnostics/aed-trainers/prestan-adult-child-aed-ultratrainer-4-pack/p/3650-40100?searchText=AED%20trainer

200 pack of CPR Manikin Barriers (prevents infection, and cleanliness while training different people) ($266 for 200 barriers) https://www.boundtree.com/training-simulation/manikin-parts/bio-barrier-cpr-manikin-training-faceshield-clear/p/674-01RB5050?searchText=CPR+training+barrier

(Tentatively) Classes that will be used to train instructors:

2+ Instructor Training Classes (to provide volunteers with instructor certifications, and ability to issue certificates to participants) ($420/instructor * 2 = $840) https://www.nsc.org/shop/all-products/nsc-first-aid-cpr-and-aed-elearning-instructor-dev

As I have already received training authorization from the Stop The Bleed Coalition, I would plan to budget $500 for Stop The Bleed Supplies (Source TBD).

For most classes, at least some written materials will be required (exams, or info packets, certifications) $250 for Certificate/Printing Manuals - budgeting for printer/ink for first year

$1,000 for general operating over the academic year - I fully expect random/surprise expenses to come up, and want to be prepared for them in advance.

Leanest Cost for Supplies/operations: $4,870 (pre-tax), so $5,000

$5,000 will be my minimum , which will allow me to start the project in full, however, I will make the goal $6,500 to allow for slightly more expenses, and for any unknown expenses that could come up. The money, regardless of amount will be directed to the same goal, providing free, quality classes.

Anything over $5,000 would provide more of an operating budget, and access to expand faster!

I fully anticipate that the project will be able to reach 500+ students per year at my college, and local community, due to reducing the barriers of entry (zero cost, and being accessible to students).

My project has already been fiscally sponsored by The Hack Foundation, and receives it's 501c3 status. The Hack Foundation maintains a restricted fund for my project, and accepts donations on my behalf, but does not financially support the project at all, fundraising is on my own.

• Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

I am currently the only team member for the project. Upon my return to campus for this academic year, I plan to find students to help support the mission, and that will get involved with it.

I am 19 years old, a Eagle Scout, and a Biology major! I run a small Amazon FBA store that helps to fund my college career, however I don't make enough from it to support beyond my college, which is why I can't unfortunately sponsor the project myself.

The most similar project I have created in the past was my Eagle Scout Project- which was a large-scale food drive in benefit of God's Pantry Food Bank in Lexington KY (Feeding America Food Bank). I ran and directed a food drive throughout several schools in my community, and did targeted door-to-door food drives, which resulted in almost a metric ton of food being donated overall and financial donations to God's Pantry.

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

The most likely outcome from this project failing in receiving funding is that it will be indefinitely delayed until I can locate and procure funding for my project.

I don't want the project to end up being a low quality version of itself, and want it to truly be able to help my community. If I do it, I want it to truly be able to function, and operate in the best way possible, and truly be able to provide quality training, and last.

If my project isn't funded, I will work to find a way for the project to operate, but it will result in delays until I can find funding.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

My restricted fund managed by The Hack Foundation (my Fiscal Sponsor) is fully transparent, and can be accessed at the link below for a real-time view of the finances. The project will remain fully transparent, as I believe it is key for donors/sponsors to see a true state of finances, and see what we are spending on/why.

https://hcb.hackclub.com/ky-community-first-aid-response/transactions

At the time of posting, I have had ~$200 in donations, all of which have been from myself, and my immediate family.

Thank you for considering my project, and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have for me. Although I am biased, I sincerely think that my project will have a very high impact, and is at a place that it can be implemented within weeks, if funding can be secured. Even if you chose not to support, if you have any advice, I would appreciate it so much.

All the best,

Joshua