Making A Difference Foundation Hosts CPR Training to Address Life-Saving Skills Gap in Tacoma
Tacoma, WA — Making A Difference Foundation (MADF) will host a community CPR training event on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the organization’s Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank Delivery Center and Warehouse facility located at 10303 East Portland Avenue in Tacoma. The training is designed to equip community members with the knowledge and confidence needed to respond during cardiac emergencies.
Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year, and nearly 90 percent are fatal without immediate intervention. When CPR is performed right away, a person’s chance of survival can double or even triple.
Despite the importance of rapid response, many people feel unprepared to act in an emergency. Surveys show that less than half of adults report knowing how to perform CPR, and even fewer feel confident stepping in to help during a cardiac crisis.
The training event also aims to raise awareness about disparities in who receives lifesaving assistance. Studies have shown that Black and Hispanic individuals are significantly less likely to receive bystander CPR, and women are less likely than men to receive CPR in public settings. This is especially true of Black women.
“This issue is deeply personal for our family,” said Ahndrea Blue, founder of Making A Difference Foundation. “Everyone deserves the chance to survive a cardiac emergency. By training more community members in CPR, we can empower people to act quickly and confidently when someone’s life is on the line.”
This training initiative is being conducted in partnership with Andrea Wicks-Hardy through the Alberta Project, a community effort created in memory of Andrea’s mother, Alberta Wicks. Alberta Wicks suffered a cardiac arrest while at work and did not receive CPR from those nearby. The Alberta Project was created to raise awareness about the importance of bystander CPR and to help ensure that more people are trained and prepared to respond when someone’s life is at risk.
“My mother’s passing showed us how critical those first few minutes can be,” said Andrea Wicks-Hardy. “Too often people want to help but don’t know what to do or are afraid of doing something wrong.
Through the Alberta Project, we want to make sure more people in our communities know how to respond with confidence. Learning CPR is a simple skill that can mean the difference between life and death for someone’s loved one.”
Emergency responders often arrive within eight to twelve minutes after a cardiac arrest call, but brain injury can begin within four to six minutes without oxygen. That gap makes the actions of trained bystanders critical.
Making A Difference Foundation and Andrea launched this initiative to expand access to CPR education and ensure more people in the community are prepared to respond when seconds matter.
“Saving a life should not depend on race, gender, or assumptions,” Blue added. “Our goal is simple: help everyday people learn the skills that can save someone’s life.”
Community members interested in learning CPR and strengthening their emergency response skills are encouraged to drop by the Portland Ave. location to attend the training. All are welcome! For more information, call MADF at 253-212-2778.
About Making A Difference Foundation
Making A Difference Foundation is a Tacoma-based nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of families through programs that address food insecurity, economic stability, and community health. Through initiatives such as Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank and community outreach programs, the organization serves thousands of individuals across Pierce County each month.