A Cause Close to Our Hearts
Because of our AHA moments, we support the American Heart Association (AHA). AHA moments are when we realized how much heart issues can affect Tampa Electric team members and their families.
Our CEO & President Archie Collins was proud to be Chair of the American Heart Association’s 2023 Tampa Bay Heart Walk - and we're proud to say our Tampa Electric team raised $329,000 for the event!
Archie's AHA moment belongs to a dear friend and late colleague, Shawn Copeland, Tampa Electric’s late Vice President of Safety. “Anyone who worked with Shawn knows he was a fine man - a trusted advisor, a family man, a man of faith, a man who respected and cared for his TECO family. On Feb. 11, 2021, he passed away suddenly from a heart attack,” said Archie. “He often spoke to me about the importance of capturing hearts and minds. He cared. He made a difference. Now, we all can make a difference in his honor."
Gone too soon. Every year, 350,000 people die from cardiac arrest in the United States. With your help, we can do our part to support the AHA’s mission – and remember Shawn and everyone else we have lost to heart disease in the process. Here’s how you can get involved:
Understand Heart Health
Heart health is crucial for our overall well-being, as the heart is the central “engine” of the body that supplies nutrients to every cell. Maintaining a healthy heart through exercise, a balanced diet and stress management reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Prioritizing heart health enhances quality of life, boosts energy levels, and lowers the likelihood of chronic illnesses.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease continues to be the greatest health threat to Americans and is still the leading cause of death worldwide. Learn the steps you can take to help reverse this statistic.
Learn Life-Saving CPR
When a heart stops, seconds matter. But too often, when someone has a cardiac arrest away from a hospital, people in a position to help don't. If you had to save the life of a loved one, would you know what to do? Fortunately, Derek Stock did. Just watch the video above to hear our former Polk Power Station’s Engineering and Maintenance Manager describe the life-saving steps he took after lightning struck his young son, Levi.
Take a few minutes to learn the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR by visiting CPR.heart.org. When performed immediately and effectively, Hands-Only CPR can double, or even triple the chance of survival. Tampa Electric is honored to support AHA’s efforts to spread CPR awareness and empower more lifesavers in our community.
Spread Awareness
Some stories hit close to the heart. We call them our AHA moments. At Tampa Electric, our AHA moments were realizing how we can make a heartfelt difference. Read about our AHA moments that led us to support the American Heart Association (AHA). We invite you to share these stories on your social media channels and tell us about your AHA moment.
When the Widowmaker Found a Tampa Electric Team Member
Join Ron Kennedy on his incredible journey from pouring his own sidewalk to surviving a major heart attack, and learn why talking about heart health can save lives.
Second Chance at Life
In an instant, your life can change. Tampa Electric’s John Currier knows that all too well. One minute the Director of Grid Modernization wasn‘t feeling too hot in a work meeting and the next, he’s being rushed to the emergency room.
Training the Next Generation of Lifesavers
What better way to start the new school year than to help train the next generation of lifesavers? That’s what Tampa Electric is doing by partnering with the American Heart Association (AHA) to provide 35 CPR in Schools Training Kits to Hillsborough County middle schools.
