WESTWOOD, N.J.—Jordan Schwartz set out to save lives. Now, his campaign to screen his fellow high school students for hidden heart conditions is doing more—it’s inspiring a movement.
The 16-year-old Westwood Regional High School rising junior, now on a teen and college tour out West, is the force behind Cardinals Cardiac Commitment—a grassroots effort to screen local students for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), the leading cause of death among student-athletes and a top killer on school campuses.
Jordan raised his first $5,000 for the project—exceeding his initial goal—from a small army of supporters including local businesses, ranging from $15 to $500.
June 30, he accepted a dazzling $30,000 commitment from Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood. The hospital’s support—$10,000 annually for three years—will underwrite expanded cardiac screenings and help formalize the initiative at WRHS.
“After Jordan presented to the hospital, they were beyond generous,” said his father, Jonathan Schwartz, in a telephone interview. “He made a real impression.”
That impression is now reverberating far beyond school walls. The governing body of Westwood has nominated Jordan for a Fifth District Hometown Hero Award. The awards acknowledge recipients’ dedication to helping improve the lives of their neighbors, families, and communities.*
The project began after a 16-year-old varsity soccer player—son of a co-worker of Jordan Schwartz’s aunt, who teaches in Mahwah—collapsed and died at home. Concerned, the aunt had her own son tested and doctors discovered a heart irregularity requiring ablation. That prompted Jordan’s family to have him screened as well. He was fine, but the experience underscored for him the need of early cardiac screening for teens.
“I thought it was important to make our community and schools aware of this silent killer,” he told the Township of Washington Council during a May presentation, part of his road show to raise awareness and funds for the cause.
Working with the nonprofit mCore Foundation, which specializes in low-cost youth heart screenings, Jordan helped bring 68 slots to Westwood Regional High School this spring—all filled—with costs reduced from the standard $79 to $25 per student through local donations and hospital support.
The goal now: screen all students at WRHS. “Jordan feels this should be done—and he wants to do it,” said Jonathan, a long-term-care insurance consultant. “He’s not just passionate, he’s prepared, and he follows through.”
Pascack Valley Medical Center echoed that commitment.
“As a community hospital, we value strong local partnerships that support the health and well-being of our neighbors,” said CEO Michael Bell in a statement to Pascack Press. “Supporting youth and youth sports—key to promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles—is central to our mission. We aim to build a healthier, more connected community.”
Sudden Cardiac Arrest differs from a heart attack. It strikes without warning, often due to electrical or structural heart abnormalities. Studies suggest screenings like those Jordan is advocating for can detect high-risk conditions in nearly 1.5% of students.
“This doesn’t just apply to athletes,” he told officials. “It can happen to anyone.”
His efforts have earned support across both district towns. Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo praised him, saying that of all the students who’ve presented ideas to him, Jordan was arguably “the most polished and prepared.”
Westwood Council President Rob Bicocchi is a trustee at HUMC Pascack Valley and was instrumental in providing the hospital’s generous donation.
Jordan’s mother, Lori Tendler Schwartz, an oncology social worker, responded with gratitude. “It means a great deal to our family—and to the many young lives this initiative hopes to protect—to have the backing of our community leadership,” she said. “Thank you for shining a light on this effort.”
The Township of Washington, among many donors, committed $500 to the program through its Mayors Wellness Campaign, with funds raised at its May 3 5K and health fair.
Next, Jordan is helping organize a student club that will carry on the mission: raising funds for screenings, offering CPR and AED training, and promoting general cardiovascular wellness. The group is expected to fold in a related effort at WRHS.
A varsity soccer player in the fall and golfer in the spring, Jordan also trains with his father and has helped raise over $60,000 for pediatric oncology at Mount Sinai Hospital through charity runs. They ran 50 miles tied to the occasion of Jonathan’s 50th birthday.
He is eyeing college programs in business, but for now, his work is decidedly humanitarian.
“We’re incredibly proud,” Jonathan said. “But more importantly, this is something that’s making a real difference—right now—for kids in our community.”
* Editor’s note: The initial version of this story quoted family saying Jordan would be receiving a Hometown Hero Award in absentia on July 18, as he is traveling this summer. That said, though he was indeed nominated, he is seen as likelier to receive the award when he is available to accept it personally. Check out our story on the July 18 recipients.