Alumni News

Belmont Abbey College Receives $70,000 Grant from CaroMont Health Foundation to Expand AED Access and Nursing Education Belmont, N.C. (June 2, 2026) –Belmont Abbey College has received a $73,526 grant from the CaroMont Health Foundation to strengthen community cardiac emergency preparedness, in collaboration with the City of Belmont, and to advance nursing education.  The grant comes in response to a tragic incident in downtown Belmont, where the absence of nearby Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) contributed to the emergency in which Nancy Litwak, a cherished friend of the Belmont community and member of the Belmont Trolley Board, lost her life. Her passing highlighted a critical gap in the community’s emergency response resources, inspired changes to the downtown policy, and motivated Belmont Abbey College to pursue this grant to help prevent future tragedies. In the last year, Belmont Abbey’s nursing department has already implemented CPR classes and training for community members. To date, more than 70 participants have been trained, equipping residents with the skills to respond during cardiac emergencies.  In collaboration with the City of Belmont, the grant will fund a public AED initiative to enhance the community’s cardiac emergency response plan. The project will: Install nine AEDs: Six in strategic downtown Belmont locations and three on the campus of Belmont Abbey, ensuring any point in the downtown corridor is within a two-minute walk to an AED, well within the critical four-minute window for defibrillation.  Train faculty and the community: Four nursing faculty will become certified American Heart Association CPR instructors. Recurring CPR and AED training will be offered to local business employees, organizational staff, and community members.  Establish sustainable preparedness: The initiative will create a long-term, faculty-led model for ongoing community cardiac emergency preparedness and public education.  “The safety and well-being of our community is always a top priority,” said...