Vision Technologies selects the American Heart Association as their National charity for 2021

Posted on July 29, 2021

“We are really excited to highlight companies that are doing amazing things out there. This month, we are highlighting our member, Vision Technologies and their cause, the American Heart Association. Please see our newsletter for more information on the wonderful things they are doing, how you can donate and get involved. If your company has an incredible cause, we want to highlight you! Please get in touch with us so we can include you and your company in our next Safer Buildings Coalition newsletter. Together, let's do well while doing good.”

- Laurie Caruso, CEO of Safe-Fi Technologies and Community Affairs Chairman at Safer Buildings Coalition.

Vision Technologies, a national and global systems integrator for commercial and federal clients, provides IT services and solutions from the data center to the desktop. Certified professionals design, engineer, install, support, and sustain IP-converged technologies. Using its Integrated Technology Delivery (ITD®) methodology, Vision’s specialties include a high-performing, industry-certified Professional Services technical staff along with core Design-Build solutions for Security (IP Cameras/Access Control), Audio-Visual Systems, Wireless (WLAN and DAS), Low-Voltage Cabling, and Passive Optical Networks. In addition, Vision has unique expertise spanning the latest Return to Work/Return to Office solutions.

Each year, Vision selects a charity to support and makes an impact through various fundraisers. Vision has been working with the American Heart Association (AHA) for years now, and we were recognized as a healthy, fit place to work. We had meetings with them to discuss walking for a healthy heart, as well as CPR demonstrations to be performed in our office. Through the years, they have continued to reach out on a regular basis to Vision supplying heart healthy education information for our employees and giving opportunities such as our participation in the Heart Walk. They were very excited to serve us further in being a possible contender for our donations.

Vision Technologies was recently named to the top of the Baltimore Business Journal’s list of Greater Baltimore’s Healthiest Employers. Our wellness program is focused on the employees emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. The American Heart Association is the perfect example of our commitment to wellness. Heart disease and stroke are the number one and number five killers in our country. By committing Vision teams to participate in the Heart Walk while raising funds for the American Heart Association, we are tied to making a difference in creating a healthier community and saving lives. But more than that, we are supporting our teammates who have lost family and friends.

“Vision Technologies is proud to have selected the American Heart Association (AHA) as our national charity for 2021. With a minimum commitment of $30,000 and a goal of $50,000, the teammates at Vision are using their talents and commitment to raise funds for this great cause. The AHA was selected by a national vote of our teammates and was the overwhelming favorite for 2021! Activities throughout the year will include an industry-focused golf tournament and trade show, the annual AHA Heart Walk in cities across the country and local events like chili cook-offs and raffles. Vision also provides every teammate with four hours of PTO to perform charity work, resulting in over 2000 hours of donated time in any given year.” Al Saxon, Vice President, Vision Technologies

Another great example is one new Vision Technologies team member came to us and said, “I lost my uncle, a veteran of the US Air Force, to heart failure last year during the pandemic. My family asked that memorial contributions be sent to the American Heart Association. To now join a company that embodies these same values while committing both financial and physical support to a mission I care about is quite literally heartwarming.”

Both father and father-in-law of Vision’s Marketing Manager, Nancy Hummel, suffered from heart attacks. Although Nancy’s father was physically fit, played tennis, golf, and ate healthy, he underwent triple bypass surgery; however, he lived a long life until the age of 91. Her father-in-law was a different story. An unhealthy eater, former smoker and overweight, he had a heart attack outside his home, laying for hours in the snow until a neighbor spotted him. He recovered slowly but later died of congestive heart failure.

Everyone probably knows someone who has heart disease. Certain illnesses can be prevented while others are due to heredity. It is important to create awareness for a healthy lifestyle, as well as educate the public on symptoms and what to do in case of a heart attack. The AHA does a good job with all of these.

Safer Buildings and the public can get involved with the American Heart Association by participating in the Heart Walk onSaturday, October 16th.  Whether the event will be in-person, digital, or hybrid,we are going BIGso we canhaveagreatimpact on the missionof the American Heart Association.(See attached PDF)  

Pleasehelp us change and save livesboth locally and nationally.  If you are interested, please visit Vision’s Heart Walk landing pagehere.   

In addition to the above-mentioned events, Vision is also planning a Thanksgiving Trek and silent auction to benefit AHA.