Heart Guard Heroes:
Youth Sports AED Challenge

The Heart Guard Heroes: Youth Sports AED Challenge (the "Challenge") is sponsored by the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) in collaboration with GoRescue and ZOLL^®. The Challenge aims to raise awareness about the importance of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in communities and award deserving youth sports organizations, park & recreation associations, and schools with life-saving AEDs.

Damar Hamlin discusses the importance of CPR and AEDs

Eligibility

The Challenge is open to all youth sports organizations, park & recreation associations, and schools (Organizations) in the United States. Organizations must be in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations to be eligible.

How to Participate

a. Organizations must submit a compelling story to NCYS explaining why their organization deserves to receive an AED.
b. Organizations must post a summary of their story on their social media account (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, or X) using the hashtag #HeartGuardHeroes and tagging @NCYS, @GoRescue, and @ZOLLPublicSafety.
c. Organizations are encouraged to promote community engagement and support by encouraging their community and supporters to vote for their entry.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged based on:

1. Storytelling Excellence (5 points)
--- Compelling Narrative: Demonstrate a commitment to program and community safety through a compelling narrative. Showcase your understanding of an AED's impact (e.g., sharing stories of previous incidents, alignment with your mission, or outlining planned CPR initiatives).

2. Community Impact (5 points)
--- Demonstrated Need: Provide evidence of your organization's need for an AED, emphasizing its potential impact on the community and lives it serves (e.g., budget size, zip code, community demographics, insights from previous near misses, etc.)

3. Social Media Engagement (5 points)
--- Effective Use of Hashtags: Demonstrate effective social media engagement by using the official hashtag #HeartGuardHeroes, providing links to posts, and showcasing engagement metrics such as likes and shares.

Special Considerations (Bonus Points)
--- Incorporation of Influencers (Up to 5 points): Earn bonus points by successfully engaging with influencers, such as notable alumni, to enhance your candidacy.

Total Points: 15

The decisions of the judging panel are final and binding.

Prizes

a. Thirteen (13) deserving organizations with the highest total points will each receive a ZOLL AED 3^® to enhance their life-saving capabilities.
b. Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or any other form of compensation. 

There is no entry fee.

Timeline

a. The Challenge will run from January 29, 2024, to February 29, 2024.
b. Winners will be announced on NCYS social channels on March 11, 2024. Winners will also be contacted by an NCYS representative.

How to Spread the Word

a. Organizations are encouraged to share the Challenge announcement on their social media channels.
b. Organizations should hashtag #HeartGuardHeroes in all relevant social media posts.
c. Organizations must tag @NCYS, @GoRescue, and @ZOLLPublicSafety in their social media posts.
d. Organizations are encouraged to contact their local media outlets to share the story of the Challenge.

Contact Information

For inquiries or concerns about the Challenge, participants may contact Wayne B. Moss at wayne@ncys.org. By participating in the Heart Guard Heroes: Youth Sports AED Challenge, Organizations agree to abide by these terms and conditions.

Legal Compliance
a. Organizations must comply with  the rules of this challenge and be in compliance with all laws and regulations to be eligible to win.
b. NCYS reserves the right to disqualify any entry that violates these terms and conditions.
c. NCYS reserves the right to modify the giveaway if entries do not meet the requirements.

Modification or Termination
NCYS, GoRescue, and ZOLL reserve the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Challenge without prior notice.

Governing Law
The laws of Georgia govern the Challenge and these terms and conditions, and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Georgia.