PROJECT HEARTBEAT

Purpose | History | Contact | Acquisitions

An Independent, Fund-Raising Committee

The Project Heartbeat committee currently consist of three members. The ambulance crew will refer to the committee a request for funding via memorandum explaining the type of equipment or funding needed. The committee chairperson will review the request with the members and then report back to the ambulance crew.

The current committee members are:

Frank Fratto, D.D.S., Dentist and Cambria resident
Don Melendy, Healthcare District Administrator and longtime Cambria resident
Art James, Committee Chairperson and Cambria resident

PURPOSE

Since its initial purchase of a heart monitor in 1977, the committee has directed its efforts toward acquiring equipment that directly benefits the operations of the ambulances.

Although the Cambria Community Healthcare District provides general funding for the ambulances, it is limited as to the type of equipment that can be purchased. Project Heartbeat provides the option of obtaining upgraded, higher-end equipment that would otherwise be considered too expensive for the District to acquire.

An example of advance equipment acquisition includes two tympanic thermometers (body temperature via the ear). Obviously, the paramedics could get by with the standard oral thermometer, but any parent could tell you how hard it is to get an accurate temperature on sick, non-cooperative child. With the tympanic thermometers, the sensing probe is quickly inserted into the ear and a button is pressed. The process takes about one second! Thus the patient and the paramedic gains from another Project Heartbeat purchase

HISTORY

Project Heartbeat was founded in 1977 by Art James and Doris Melendy as a means to raise monies for an expensive heart monitor.

The fund raising effort was so successful that a Project Heartbeat committee was formed to continue to receive donations toward ambulance equipment. Since this time Project Heartbeat has raised over thirty thousand dollars and has acquired new and modern medical devices for our ambulances.

In 1989, Art was approached by Bill and Barbara Sebro, then owners of the Moonraker Restaurant, about conducting a fund raising dinner for Project Heartbeat as a thank you for the assistance that the ambulance crews had been providing for Barbara’s mom. The idea was to work with local wineries in providing wine for the multi-course, gourmet dinner now referred to as the "Winemakers Dinner".

The first dinner was very successful, and has continued as an annual fundraising tradition. In 1993, the Penny and Tom purchased the restaurant, renamed it the Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill and the Winemakers Dinner was held at this location until 1997. The dinner was then offered at the Brambles Dining House under the guidance of Nick and Debbie Caperonis, continuing to be held there until 2003. The 2008 dinner was held at Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill and was a great success. Owners, John and Kern McKinnon and their staff provided a wonderful 5 course meal with excellent wine donated by Harmony and Castoro Cellars. We greatly appreciate Trustee Paula Taves, Vice President Frank Fratto, and committee member Art James as they organized and planned this years fund raising dinner.

In 2004, the fundraising account was incorporated into the umbrella of the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation, allowing contributions to be tax deductible.

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