Foundations Unite to Place AED #79 at Fletcher Park in Honor of Evan Michael Chambers
LAKELAND, Fla. (November 1, 2025) – On a meaningful Saturday morning at Fletcher Park on Lake Bonny, three Polk County-based nonprofits joined forces to place the 79th life-saving Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in memory of two young men lost too soon to sudden cardiac arrest.
Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation (CCF), led by Melanie Brown Culpepper, partnered with R2Cares founder Ronnie Richardson and Dr. Mark Chambers of The Evan Michael Chambers Love Foundation to donate and install the AED at the baseball field now named in honor of Evan Michael Chambers. Evan, a beloved 24-year-old Polk County athlete, tragically passed away from cardiac arrest in 2013.
The placement took place during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Evan’s Legacy Baseball Classic Championship Game Day, a fitting tribute on the very field that now bears Evan’s name.
“This is about more than equipment – it’s about being prepared and protecting the lives of the young athletes, coaches, and families who play here,” said Melanie Brown Culpepper, founder of CCF. “Having an AED on site gives everyone a fighting chance in those critical first minutes of a cardiac emergency.”
Ronnie Richardson, a Tampa Bay Rays coach, former MLB player, and Polk County native (Lake Region High School/UCF), explained why R2Cares eagerly joined the effort: “I grew up playing ball with Melanie’s sons, and our families go way back. When she reached out, it was an immediate yes. The Love Foundation’s work with youth baseball and Dr. Chambers’ commitment to Evan’s legacy align perfectly with our mission at R2Cares to strengthen minds and empower communities. Collaboration is everything.”
During the ceremony, Winter Haven Fire Department paramedic Eric Shimkus (24-year veteran and CCF volunteer) demonstrated proper AED use, Hands-Only CPR, the LifeVac choking rescue device, Narcan administration for opioid overdose, and fire extinguisher safety – the latter added in loving memory of Jolynn, a young girl tragically lost in a vehicle fire in 2024.
“Every second counts,” Shimkus told the crowd. “You – the coach, parent, or teammate – may be the closest first responder. These tools give ordinary people the power to save an extraordinary life.”
The new AED cabinet also proudly honors Michael Culpepper, Melanie’s late fiancé who passed from heart failure in July 2020 at age 34, and continues the CCF motto: “Saving Lives Matters.”
Since its founding, Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation has placed at least two AEDs every month throughout Polk County and awards three annual scholarships to aspiring first responders (Fire, Medical, and EMT fields). The foundation relies entirely on community events, sponsors, and donations to continue its goal of “a defibrillator on every city block.”
For more information or to support any of the partnering organizations:
- Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation: CulpepperAED.com C
- R2Cares: R2Cares.org
- The Evan Michael Chambers Love Foundation (contact through event organizers)
As Ronnie Richardson closed the ceremony: “When we turn pain into purpose and unite around service, we prove that love and community are still the heartbeat of Polk County.”
#SavingLivesMatters #AEDsSaveLives #R2Cares #EMCLoveFoundation #CulpeppersCardiacFoundation #FoundationsSupportingFoundations #EvanChambersLegacy #PolkProud
Contact: Melanie Brown Culpepper – (863) 662-2694 |
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