The Hearst Foundation Awards Grant to Sepsis Alliance for Sepsis Awareness and Education

National foundations founded by William Randolph Hearst work with outstanding organizations to help individuals build healthy, productive and inspiring lives.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Sepsis Alliance is pleased to announce that the organization has received a grant for the first time from The Hearst Foundations.

Established seventy years ago by legendary publisher William Randolph Hearst, The Hearst Foundations identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive and inspiring lives. The $50,000 unrestricted grant awarded to Sepsis Alliance will be used to raise awareness of sepsis, the third leading cause of death in the United States, and help distribute sepsis prevention and education programs throughout the country.

“Global organizations, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have declared sepsis a medical emergency,” said Thomas Heymann, President and Executive Director of Sepsis Alliance. “This grant from The Hearst Foundations will help us build critical resources for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds to learn about the dangers of sepsis.”

“Sepsis Alliance is saving lives by raising the alarm on sepsis,” said George Irish, Eastern Director of The Hearst Foundation, Inc. “We are proud to support this work on a national level, and provide the opportunity to create sustainable awareness and education programs to improve sepsis outcomes.”

According to the 2017 Sepsis Alliance Awareness Survey, conducted by Harris Poll, only 58 percent of American adults have ever heard of sepsis, while it is the third leading cause of death in the country. It is also the most expensive healthcare condition, incurring costs of $27 billion a year for acute hospital care alone. Sepsis is also the leading cause of death in hospitals, as well as the leading cause for readmissions.

Studies have shown that early recognition and prompt treatment of sepsis can reduce mortality, as well as the many common lasting effects from sepsis, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), limb amputations, chronic pain, and more.

“We are incredibly grateful for The Hearst Foundations’ support in building a community focused on improving outcomes for sepsis patients and their loved ones,” added Heymann. “The contribution from The Hearst Foundations will make a significant impact in our national awareness programs, and we truly appreciate their support.”

About Sepsis Alliance

Sepsis Alliance is the leading nonprofit patient advocacy organization in North America. Sepsis Alliance’s mission is to save lives by raising awareness of sepsis as a medical emergency. The organization hosts national and community events, distributes educational information, and promotes training and education on sepsis prevention and early recognition and treatment. Sepsis Alliance also supports sepsis survivors and family members with information about sepsis and Post Sepsis Syndrome, as well as a Faces of Sepsis community forum. The sepsis.org website receives more than 1.5 million visits each year. Sepsis Alliance, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is a GuideStar Gold Rated Charity. For more information, please visit www.sepsis.org.

About Hearst Foundations

The Hearst Foundations are national philanthropic resources for organizations working in the fields of culture, education, health and social services. The Hearst Foundations identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive and inspiring lives.