‘Grief and gratitude can coexist,’ Huddle For Hearts President Julie Walker

Huddle For Hearts President Julie Walker, center, attended the 2025 Penn State Men’s Football Game. At halftime, she, alongside volunteers, donated two AEDs to youth organizations.

Born and raised a Penn State football fan, I never could have imagined that someday I’d be standing on the field at Beaver Stadium during a football game with the second largest crowd ever recorded. 

As a mom of three kids, I also never imagined that someday I’d be running a national non-profit foundation because of losing my 19-year-old daughter to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. 

Combine these two things — and there I was, the night of the Penn State White Out game — on the field at halftime donating two AEDs (defibrillators) to youth organizations in an effort to spare other families from ever facing the devastation that our family now lives with. 

AEDs can help to save lives when someone is in cardiac arrest.

The moment was surreal — seeing our logo and my daughter’s name on the digital scoreboards and banners throughout Beaver Stadium. 

I stood in the end zone, waving to the crowd as our announcement was being read, and I stopped and stared, blinked back tears, and was absolutely filled with gratitude for the opportunity to raise awareness in front of 110,000 people.

If just one person was impacted, educated or inspired…mission accomplished. But, I already know this opportunity has achieved so much more than that….the response has been tremendous.

I can’t wait to see what doors open next, where this mission goes from here.

The “We Are” network is alive and at work already. 

Huddle For Hearts, powered by The Peyton Walker Foundation, is razor-focused on increasing awareness and survival rates of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. We do this through relentless education, CPR training and AED donations.

The legacy we’re building in Peyton’s name continues to grow….because of the support of our sponsors and partners who continue to say ‘yes’ and make our lifesaving work possible.

They believe in our mission and they enable us to make an impact. We pour everything right back into the communities where our support comes from. 

Standing in the end zone, taking it all in — I can assure you that grief and gratitude can coexist. Our story is validation that you can be broken and grateful….you can be devastated and hopeful. You can be in a dark season and, still, something beautiful can bloom.   

Thank you to everyone who made this possible.  We invite everyone to “Join The Huddle” and help us grow the mission and the impact!  

Julie Walker is the President of Huddle For Hearts.

Peyton’s Lifesaving Legacy….Every child, every heart.   

The beat goes on!