CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous story.
With Cleveland serving as the center of the sports universe for NBA All-Star Weekend, Denzel Ward made a donation that hit close to home.
Recently, the Cleveland Browns cornerback's Make Them Know Your Name heart health foundation donated three new automated external defibrillators (AED) to Great Lakes Science Center. While the AED machines were donated a few weeks ago, an official recognition was presented to the Science Center at the Cleveland All-Star Fitness Expo at FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday.
With Ward's donation, the Science Center now has four AED machines, which can now be placed to be accessible within two minutes of any location in the museum.
“There is oftentimes a misconception in large public buildings that AEDs are in place and easily accessible, and unfortunately that isn’t always the case. It’s so important to have them accessible and make sure that bystanders are empowered to take action in emergency situations. We really make that a large focus of our efforts at Make Them Know Your Name,” foundation Executive Director Nicole Ward said in a statement.
Added Denzel Ward: “We’re happy that the Science Center recognized the importance of AED machines. It can truly be a matter of life and death, and it’s not something to be taken lightly. I’m glad we could partner with them to fulfill this need."
Heart health has been a point of emphasis for Ward, whose father, former Carylwood Intermediate School in Bedford principal, Paul Ward Jr., died unexpectedly during a spin class in 2016. A product of Nordonia High School who went on to star at Ohio State, the younger Ward is coming off of his second Pro Bowl season since being selected by his hometown Browns with the No. 4 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.