Pallone Unveils Lifesaving Defibrillator at Perth Amboy Youth Sports Complex

October 21, 2026 Press Release AED equipment donated by John Taylor Babbitt Foundation builds on Pallone legislative efforts to prevent sudden cardiac deaths PERTH AMBOY, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) joined Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin Caba, state lawmakers, and local advocates today to unveil a new automated external defibrillator (AED) and temperature-controlled SaveStation at the Veterans Memorial Youth Complex, giving young athletes access to lifesaving equipment in the event of a cardiac emergency. The AED and SaveStation were donated by the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation during Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, with support from the Sarah Katz Foundation and local advocates. The temperature-controlled station is designed to protect the equipment from the elements and make it accessible when an emergency occurs. “When a young athlete suffers cardiac arrest on the field or court, every second matters, and having an AED nearby can mean the difference between life and death,” said Pallone. “I want to thank the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation for generously donating this lifesaving equipment and the Sarah Katz Foundation for its advocacy and support. More than 15 years ago, we lost Kittim Sherrod during track practice in Edison, and his tragic death inspired me to write the HEARTS Act, which I am proud to say is finally the law. That law will help schools get AEDs, train students and staff in CPR, and prepare for cardiac emergencies before they happen.” Pallone has long championed efforts to prevent sudden cardiac deaths among young athletes. After 17 year old Edison High School athlete Kittim Sherrod died from cardiac arrest during track practice in 2009, Pallone authored legislation to expand access to AEDs and CPR training in schools. That effort ultimately led to the bipartisan HEARTS Act, which was signed into law by President Biden in December 2024. The HEARTS Act, formally known as the Cardiomyopathy Health, Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in Schools Act, establishes a federal grant program to help schools and childcare centers obtain AEDs, provide CPR and AED training, and develop plans to respond to cardiac emergencies. The law also supports public education efforts to raise awareness of cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac arrest, conditions that can strike young people without warning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 2,000 Americans under age 25 die from sudden cardiac arrest each year. The unveiling brought together Pallone, Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin Caba, David and JoAnne Babbitt of the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation, Mike and Jill Katz of the Sarah Katz Foundation, and Mike Papale of the In A Heartbeat Foundation, all united in their commitment to preventing sudden cardiac deaths. The new equipment at Veterans Memorial Youth Complex, located at 500 Dorothy Avenue in Perth Amboy, will help ensure that young athletes and community members have access to an AED when seconds count. “What Dave and JoAnne Babbitt have done in memory of their son, John Taylor, means a great deal to our community. Through their foundation, they're helping make sure other families have access to lifesaving equipment when every second counts. We're grateful for their generosity and for Congressman Pallone's leadership on the HEARTS Act and his continued efforts to make AEDs more accessible. As we welcome more children and families to our Veterans Memorial Youth Complex, knowing this equipment is available gives us one more way to help keep them safe. I hope we never need it, but I'm grateful it's here,” Mayor Caba. “Sudden cardiac arrest remains a major public health crisis. Approximately 350,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests events occur annually in the U.S., with nearly 90% fatality. Survival may be 40-70% or higher for an out of hospital witnessed cardiac arrest with CPR started immediately and an AED delivering a shock within five minutes. It is the goal of the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation to train as many people as possible in CPR and AED usage and donate AED's to ensure communities like Perth Amboy are "Heart Safe". Immediate bystander response to sudden cardiac arrest events is critical. The John Taylor Babbitt Foundation has donated over 850 AED's and supported CPR training for over 8,000 people since its inception in 2006,” David and JoAnne Babbitt of the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation. ###