The NeoHERO Foundation, a Summerville-based nonprofit and the world’s first organization dedicated to improving neonatal health by equipping first responders for prehospital transport, has received a $20,000 grant from the Medical Society of South Carolina’s Roper St. Francis Physicians Endowment.
The funding will support the foundation’s specialized neonatal training program and provide life-saving, neonatal-sized equipment to first responders.
The grant comes at a crucial time for South Carolina, which has a preterm birth rate of 11.6%, earning the state an “F” on the 2024 March of Dimes Report Card. With one in 10 newborns requiring life-saving resuscitation at birth, the need for specialized emergency care for infants is urgent.
A Mission Born from Necessity
Founded in March 2025 by Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Lindsay Spurgeon, the NeoHERO Foundation™ was established following a tragic patient experience in which a newborn arrived at the emergency department lifeless. The EMS personnel told Spurgeon, “We don’t have the training to resuscitate these babies, and we don’t carry equipment this small. We did the best we could.”
Currently, there is no global requirement for EMS personnel to be certified in neonatal resuscitation.
“Receiving this funding is huge for us — it’s a total game-changer,” said Spurgeon. “I was at coffee with my mentor when I received the news, and I immediately cried on the spot. This mission is personal for me. The trauma I have seen and the lives this will save — neonatal healthcare in South Carolina will be changed for the better, forever.”
Empowering First Responders with NeoPACK™
The Roper St. Francis Physicians Endowment grant will help address a significant gap in emergency care. The foundation currently has a waitlist of more than 17 departments, totaling over 1,800 first responders requesting neonatal resuscitation training, certification, and appropriately sized equipment.
In rural South Carolina, 100% of women live more than 30 minutes from a birthing hospital, making the care provided by first responders critical.
In response, the NeoHERO Foundation™ will launch the NeoPACK™ (Neonatal Prehospital, Airway, Care, Knowledge) on Nov. 3, 2025, for local first responders. The specialized kits are designed to facilitate the rapid application of life-saving neonatal skills.
Standard EMS supplies often lack equipment suitable for newborns, but the NeoPACK™ includes:
Neonatal airway and ventilation equipment, such as the Neo-Tee resuscitator for precise pressure delivery and ventilation, and properly sized neonatal and preterm masks.
Thermoregulation supplies, including a thermal mattress, polyurethane-lined knit hat, and wrap to prevent dangerous heat loss in infants.
Knowledge resources, including Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) protocols and quick-reference guides.
About the Grantor
Founded in 1789, the Medical Society of South Carolina (MSSC) is the fourth-oldest medical society in the United States. Through its Roper St. Francis Physicians Endowment, MSSC provides annual grants to nonprofit organizations serving Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties to improve health, wellness, and access to care, with a focus on addressing critical community needs.
Get Involved
The NeoHERO Foundation™ urges the public to support its mission to improve neonatal outcomes and save lives. Donations will help the foundation expand its training and equipment distribution to departments across South Carolina.
Visit www.neoherofoundation.org to learn more or make a contribution.