Educational Tool Purchased for Hancock County EMS through Carthage Community Improvement Fund

The Carthage Community Improvement Fund was established with the Community Foundation in 2007 and is a permanent endowment. Each year, a portion of the earnings from the fund is used to make grants and a portion is reinvested in the fund for continued growth, thus providing a permanent source of support for charitable causes in the community. 

In May, the Carthage Community Development Committee, which reviews applications for funding, recommended Hancock County EMS to receive funding for a 12-Lead Patient Simulator. The simulator is used to create various scenarios so that a trained paramedic is kept well-versed in all types of cardiac issues a patient may experience. 

“We, as a committee, felt that we could support and fully fund a new piece of equipment that would be valuable in future trainings for paramedics right here in our area,” said Amy Graham, director of the Carthage Community Development Corporation and Community Foundation board member.  

The simulator will now be used in training in-services, skill check-offs, and certification training held at Hancock County EMS. 

“A properly trained paramedic can provide exceptional and life-saving care to the citizens of the City of Carthage, Hancock County, and the visitors and families of each,” said Jennifer Meeks with Hancock County EMS. “Quick, efficient, and correct identification of a cardiac event can mean life or death to that patient.”

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The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri builds permanent charitable funds to assist area nonprofits and communities. 

Its mission, “connecting people who care with causes that matter,” is achieved by gathering funds, growing them through investments, then granting to nonprofit organizations, causes or communities that mean the most to its donors.   

Since 1997, the Community Foundation has made more than $10 million in grants. It serves 12-counties: Adams, Brown, Hancock and Pike in Illinois and Clark, Lewis, Marion, Ralls, Pike, Knox, Shelby and Monroe in Missouri.  

The Community Foundation has IRS 501(c)(3) status, and contributions made to the Community Foundation generally qualify for the maximum allowable deductions for income and estate tax purposes.  

For more information, call 217-222-1237, email info@mycommunityfoundation.org or go to mycommunityfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/mycommunityfoundation.