Mercury, Tina Charles launch program to stock communities with AEDs
Apr 23, 2022, 7:00 AM
Tina Charles #14 of the United States. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
One of the newest additions to the Phoenix Mercury is making her presence felt in the community already.
Center Tina Charles announced the launch of Hopey’s Heart Rebounding Charity Challenge, a fundraising effort dedicated to providing automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to schools and community centers throughout the nation.
The Hopey’s Heart name comes from Charles’ late aunt, Maureen “Hopey” Vaz.
RELATED STORIES
Thanks to the organization, 430 AEDs have been provided throughout the nation. Seven of those have been donated within the state of Arizona and one was used to save a person from sudden cardiac arrest in 2017.
Charles and Hopey’s Heart have committed to donating 100 AED’s throughout the country this year.
To raise money for the purchasing the devices, Mercury fans can sign up to match dollars for every rebound Charles snatches throughout the season.
Charles has led the WNBA in rebounding four times and was tied for third last season averaging 9.6 per game.
Character Counts is a registered trademark of the Josephson Institute. 
