Mission: Lifeline expands to Nebraska, anchored by $4.1 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

On March 4th, the AHA had the pleasure of announcing a $5.3 million initiative to expand Mission: Lifeline efforts into rural Nebraska. In a collaborative, statewide effort, Mission: Lifeline will be implemented over three years with funding from key partners that share a commitment to improving outcomes for patients across the state.  Mission: Lifeline is the American Heart Association’s community-based initiative that aims to improve outcomes for heart attack patients and will focus on areas of the state outside of Omaha and Lincoln

The lead funder is The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, providing $4.1 million for the initiative. Other current funders include the Fund for Omaha through the Omaha Community Foundation, the Ron and Carol Cope Charitable Fund, and Aaron and Rachel Wagner. Additional donor support will be sought throughout the duration of the three-year grant.

At the press conference, Michael Schnieders, CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and a member of the American Heart Association’s Midwest Affiliate board of directors had this to say: “We are truly grateful to the Helmsley Charitable Trust for this grant. Mission: Lifeline will help Nebraska to better coordinate heart attack care, which will mean better outcomes for patients, and more lives saved. Time is muscle when someone is having a heart attack, so getting a patient proper treatment faster, especially in rural areas, is crucial. Better collaboration among healthcare providers improves care for patients, and Mission: Lifeline provides these important communication and collaboration tools to our first responders and hospitals to improve care for all Nebraskans.”

Mission: Lifeline is about saving lives – your mother’s, your father’s, your brother’s, your wife’s, your best friend’s. This collaborative effort will have a tremendous impact on every citizen of Nebraska for years to come!