Keeping Our Community Safe: A Partnership with the Allison Rose Foundation
In March, SVUDL staff earned certifications in CPR/AED, basic first aid, and epinephrine auto-injector training. It's a step we're making to better equip our team to serve the community.
A key part of that journey has been our partnership with the Allison Rose Foundation (ARF), a nonprofit dedicated to food allergy education, awareness, and advocacy. ARF was founded by Michael Suhy in memory of his daughter, Ally who passed away from a fatal anaphylactic reaction during her freshman year of college. Ally had lived a full life with a severe nut allergy, supported by a close family and community — but her untimely death highlighted how critical food allergy awareness and preparedness matters, especially for young people stepping into new environments.
Michael personally led a training session with SVUDL staff, focused specifically on epinephrine use in emergencies. Our organization also received an epinephrine auto-injector and allergy emergency kit at no cost.
The value of this kind of preparation was underscored recently at Fox Valley Technical College in Wisconsin, where EMT students put their newly learned CPR skills to use when their instructor went into actual cardiac arrest during a simulated heart attack exercise. It's a good reminder that training is preparation for the moments that matter most — and that we all have a role to play.
Stories like these are a reminder that education and preparedness aren't abstract goals — they have tremendous impact on people. This partnership reflects SVUDL’s commitment to continuing to grow in how we show up for our community.
Special thank you to ARF for your generous partnership in education, training, and equipment.
