Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center’s Foundation was honored with a HeartSaver Hero award – presented by Lt. Governor Pat Quinn - for the donation of funds to local schools which assisted in the purchase of AEDs. The Foundation presented a check to Joliet Public School District 86 to purchase 36 AEDs for Joliet Township Schools.

Lt. Governor Pat Quinn presented Provena Saint Joe’s with their HeartSaver Hero Award while also urging Illinois citizens to “save a heart and save a life” this past Valentine’s Day through a new checkoff on this year’s Illinois income tax form.

“Automated External Defibrillators are saving lives across Illinois and across the nation,” Quinn said. Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are portable, life saving devices that can be used to restore natural heart rhythm to someone in cardiac arrest. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Illinois, claiming the lives of more than 200,000 Americans each year. The American Red Cross estimates that 50,000 people across the country could be saved if AED machines were more readily accessible.