Hopedale, MA — May 22, 2025 — Bright Beginnings Center (BBC) is proud to announce that it has become the first school in Massachusetts to be recognized as a Heart Safe School through Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam’s Memory)—a national nonprofit program dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac death in children and adolescents.

Project ADAM was founded in memory of Adam Lemel, a 17-year-old student-athlete who tragically lost his life to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) while playing basketball. The program's mission is to ensure that schools are prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies quickly and effectively, giving students the best chance of survival.

Project ADAM's Key Goals Include: 

• Ensuring schools are designated as "Heart Safe"
• Improving access to AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators
• Providing CPR and AED training to staff and students
• Creating a comprehensive Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP)
• Conducting annual cardiac emergency drills
• Partnering with local hospitals and emergency responders

Below are photos from the final drill with Dr. Elizabeth Jacobs from Hasbro Children's Hospital. Hopedale Fire and Police were in attendance. They also received a citation from Representative Brian Murray.