AtlasIED, a manufacturer of commercial audio and communication solutions, and National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) Education Foundation announce the creation of a joint grant program called Ivey’s Everyday Heroes. 

The new program was developed in memory of Loyd Ivey, founder of Phoenix-based AtlasIED, to help recognize students, staff and educators who have exhibited heroic and selfless acts to keep others safe, explains AtlasIED President Johnathan Ivey. 

AtlasIED and the Ivey family’s first donation will allow the initiation of the program and for the first grants to be distributed.

“Children should not feel fear or threatened when at school. Schools are supposed to be a safe place. But, over the past decades, school violence has increased and it’s unacceptable,” says Ivey. “The technology that we developed, first under my father’s guidance and now under mine is just a small contribution to help reduce active lethal threats in schools.” 

Students and faculty have been empowered to be part of the safety team through speaking up and reporting potential risks. Grants provided through Ivey’s Everyday Heroes are intended to encourage more voices, more awareness and more communication amongst the school community. Everyday heroes can step up to deter, delay, detect and be a leader in planning, practicing and preparing our schools against senseless acts of violence, the announcement states.  

Chuck Wilson, CEO of NSCA and Board Chairman at PASS K12, assisted in developing the Ivey’s Everyday Heroes program. 

“As one of the founders of the PASS K12 program, school and student safety has always been part of my personal mission. Having been in the technology field for decades, I know that our industry has influence and is effective in protecting individuals through the products and solutions it develops,” Wilson says. “It was a natural fit for me then to take it a step further with PASS K12, to help define how the technology can be used to enhance safety and security. PASS K12 created the guidelines using an ‘all hazards’ approach to address everyday concerns. Then when John approached me to help develop the Everyday Heroes program, I knew it was the next step for us to give back in this way.” 

PASS K12 guidelines and checklists have made an impact on safety and awareness at schools, so much so that states have started including PASS K12 guidelines in their school safety legislation, the announcement states. 

Ivey’s Everyday Heroes will be administered through the PASS K12 organization and candidates will be identified through an application process. The application process and review board are under development, with additional details scheduled to be released soon.

Individuals who are interested in becoming involved in or donate to Ivey’s Everyday Heroes are encouraged to contact Wilson at cwilson@nsca.org.