A Late Local Business Owner Helped Raise Money for an AED. That AED was Recently Donated in Her Honor.
by James Coulter
Nancy Cooley was the owner of Caribbean Bay in Winter Haven. She assisted another local business owner, Melanie Brown Culpepper Bielke, and her endeavors through Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation.
Earlier this March, Nancy served as the sole sponsor of Crawlin’ On The Chain, a fundraiser hosted by CCF to raise proceeds to install an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the local community, as well as support another non-profit Keep Winter Haven Clean & Beautiful, Inc.
Recently, not only was that AED donated to The G-Spot in Lake Wales, but it was also donated in honor of the woman who helped make that donation possible, Nancy Cooley.
“I always keep my word and wanted to honor Nancy,” Melanie wrote on Facebook. “I know Nancy would be proud to know Jeremy will continue her support in our community and for heart awareness with CCF.”
On July 19, Melanie and her group of volunteers visited The G-Spot with Nancy’s late son, Jeremy Cooley, to donate and install the AED, as well as offer a brief presentation and demonstration.
Jeremy was proud of his late mother. He claimed Nancy would help anyone in need of it, even to the point of giving them the shirt off her back. As such, Jeremy knows his late mother would appreciate the AED donated in her honor.
“My mother had a heart of gold, so let’s continue to save people and their families,” he said. “Melanie, you are doing an amazing job. It doesn’t matter how much you have going on: CCF is the main focus and it is so great what you are doing to save someone.”
Lisa Richmond has worked at the G-Spot for 10 years and owned it for five. She previously worked for Nancy before being encouraged by her to start her own venture. And start it she did! To have an AED donated in the memory of someone who inspired her current career is nothing short of an honor, she said.
“I feel very honored. Nancy Cooley had the biggest caring and giving heart,” she said. “I know Jeremy Cooley will continue his mother’s good work. I’m blessed for knowing them.”
“Melanie has the same giving and caring HEART as Nancy Cooley,” Lisa continued. “I’m glad to get to know her. I’m going to do my best to help in ALL her giving. I’m going to do my best to pay it forward. Melanie, keep up your great work. Nancy’s watching over you.”
This AED was the 46th donated by Melanie through CCF. Her non-profit organization has donated other AEDs to local businesses and establishments including Tanner’s Lakeside, Caribbean Bay, and Old Man Frank’s.
Melanie started CCF three years ago following the untimely death of her late fiancée Michael Culpepper, who passed away from cardiac arrest. Not wanting anyone else to suffer a similar fate, she started her organization to raise funds to donate AEDs across Polk County.
CCF will be hosting its annual fundraiser Saving Lives Matter in October at Tanner’s Lakeside.
For more information, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/honoringculpepper/
