Born from love, loss, and purpose, Always 65 is committed to turning pain into action by fighting for stronger safety measures, increased access to AEDs, CPR education, and policies that promote early detection of hidden heart conditions in our youth.
We believe every child deserves the chance to play, dream, and live safely — and every heartbeat matters.
Join us for the 3rd Annual EKGs for Eli on October 27, 2026, at Windsor High School.
Hosted by the Always 65 Foundation and In A Heartbeat, this event provides free EKG heart screenings for youth and young adults ages 8–25 and, for the first time, CPR training for participants and families.
Created in memory of Eli Rivera (#65), this event is dedicated to raising awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest and helping protect the next heartbeat through early detection, education, and preparedness.
October is Eli Remembrance Month.
Register today and help us make this our biggest event yet.
Protect the Next Heartbeat.
Eli was more than a number.
He was a son, a brother, a teammate, a friend, and a light in the lives of everyone who knew him.
He had a smile that could change the atmosphere of a room, a heart full of love, and a passion for life that showed in everything he did — especially on the football field. He was the kind of young man who brought people together. Strong, loyal, caring, and full of dreams for the future.
On October 10, 2023, our lives changed forever.
Eli passed away from sudden cardiac arrest, a tragedy that no family ever imagines will happen to their child. Like so many families, we never thought something hidden within the heart could take someone so young, so quickly, and with so little warning.
In the silence that followed, we were left with grief, questions, and a painful realization:
Too many families are unaware that hidden heart conditions in young athletes often go undetected until it is too late.
But through that pain, a purpose was born.
Always 65 was created to honor Eli’s life by fighting for awareness, prevention, preparedness, and change. His jersey number — 65 — now represents a mission much greater than the game itself: protecting the next heartbeat.
We share Eli’s story not only to remember him, but to help save lives.
Because if one school becomes better prepared…
if one parent asks more questions…
if one young athlete receives a heart screening that catches something early…
then Eli’s legacy continues to live on through every life impacted.
We cannot change what happened to Eli.
But we can fight every day to help prevent another family from experiencing the same heartbreak.
Every year, thousands of families across the country experience the unimaginable loss of a child or young athlete to sudden cardiac arrest. Many of these tragedies happen without warning, often during sports, exercise, or everyday activities. What makes this even more heartbreaking is that many underlying heart conditions remain completely undetected until it is too late. In fact, studies estimate that 1 in 300 children may have an undiagnosed heart condition capable of leading to sudden cardiac arrest.
At Always 65, we believe awareness can save lives. Through education, advocacy, and preparedness, we aim to help families, schools, coaches, and communities recognize that prevention matters. Early detection through heart screenings, access to AEDs, properly trained staff, and strong cardiac emergency response plans can mean the difference between life and death. The problem is real, but so is the opportunity to create change — and every heartbeat we protect moves us one step closer to that mission.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Always 65 Foundation is to raise awareness about Sudden Cardiac Arrest in youth athletes through education, advocacy, prevention initiatives, heart screening awareness, CPR & AED preparedness, and community outreach.
We are committed to helping schools and communities create safer environments for children by promoting cardiac emergency response plans, increasing access to lifesaving equipment, and advocating for stronger preventative measures and policies.
Vision Statement
Our vision is a future where every school, athletic program, and community is equipped, educated, and prepared to recognize and respond to cardiac emergencies — ensuring that no family loses a child due to lack of awareness, preparation, or early detection.
At Always 65, we envision a future where no family has to endure the unimaginable loss of a child due to an undetected heart condition. Our mission was born from personal tragedy, but it is driven by hope, action, and a commitment to protecting the next generation.
We are dedicated to raising awareness about sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes and educating communities about the warning signs, risks, and realities that too often go unnoticed. Through advocacy, education, and outreach, we strive to ensure that parents, coaches, educators, healthcare professionals, and student-athletes understand the critical importance of heart health and early detection.
We believe that preparedness saves lives. That is why we advocate for stronger cardiac emergency response plans in schools and athletic programs, including access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), CPR training, and clear emergency protocols when every second matters. A prepared community can mean the difference between tragedy and survival.
We also believe that prevention begins with knowledge. Many heart conditions that place young athletes at risk can remain hidden during a standard sports physical. By promoting access to preventative heart screenings, including electrocardiograms (EKGs) and echocardiograms, we aim to help identify potentially life-threatening conditions before they become catastrophic events.
Through partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, community organizations, and legislative leaders, we work to advance meaningful change that protects young hearts and strengthens the safety net surrounding our children. Whether through awareness campaigns, heart screening events, educational programs, or policy advocacy, every effort we undertake is focused on creating a lasting impact.
Our work is more than a mission—it is a promise. A promise to honor Eli's legacy by fighting for greater awareness, stronger protections, and earlier detection. A promise to support families and communities in safeguarding the young lives entrusted to them. And a promise to continue pushing forward until every student-athlete has access to the tools, resources, and protections they deserve.
Because every heartbeat matters.
And every step forward brings us closer to protecting the next heartbeat.
Connecticut House Bill 5514 marks an important and meaningful step forward in the fight against sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes.
Beginning in the 2027–2028 school year, student-athletes in Connecticut will be required to undergo annual health assessments that include cardiac screenings. This legislation recognizes a critical truth: too many young lives are being lost to undetected heart conditions, often with little or no warning signs.
This bill represents progress. It shows that lawmakers, medical professionals, educators, and families are beginning to take youth cardiac health seriously. It opens the door for greater awareness, stronger preparedness, and earlier identification of potential risks before tragedy strikes.
But while this law is a step in the right direction, it still leaves out one critical piece that many families and advocates believe could save even more lives: mandatory EKG screenings for student-athletes.
Standard sports physicals alone often fail to detect underlying electrical or structural heart abnormalities that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. An EKG can help identify conditions that may otherwise go unnoticed until it is too late.
Awareness matters.
Preparedness matters.
But prevention through early detection must remain part of the conversation.
We cannot stop here.
Now is the time for communities, parents, coaches, educators, and advocates to continue pushing for stronger protections for our youth athletes.
If you believe more can be done to protect the next heartbeat, we encourage you to contact your local legislators and elected officials. Ask them to support mandatory EKG screenings for student-athletes and continued investment in cardiac emergency preparedness in our schools and athletic programs.
Real change happens when voices come together.
Every step forward brings us closer to saving a life.
Interested in learning more, partnering with us, or scheduling a heart screening event for your school or community? Contact at learnmore@always65.com and help us protect the next heartbeat.
Or visit our volunteer partner, In A Heartbeat at Inaheartbeat.org
