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Faxed to: (202)282-8401

August 5, 2009

Secretary Janet Napolitano

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528

Dear Secretary Napolitano:

In my letter of May 1, 2009, I provided you with information that raised concerns about
the Save-A-Life Foundation (SALF), a member organization of FEMA’s Citizen Corps. I
also requested your responses to factual questions.

I have not received a reply therefore I would welcome some indication from you when I
may expect a response from you or your representative.

I also have additional questions based on this information published in a July 17, 2009
Daily Herald article, “Suit dropped as Save A Life Changes Mission” by Kimberly Pohl
(attached):

The high-profile nonprofit organization, which taught schoolchildren first aid

techniques, ceased its old mission and closed its office to the public on July
1…(SALF Founder/president Carol) Spizzirri said the organization is negotiating
for smaller quarters, has turned its focus to the future of emergency medical
services and has been supporting related state legislation.

As of today, Citizen Corps’s SALF web page (attached) appears unchanged since SALF
changed its mission. Therefore I presume that a FEMA representative has reviewed and
endorsed SALF’s new mission. If that is incorrect, please advise.

Finally, would you please provide me with the name of the employee who is responsible
for overseeing FEMA’s relationship with the Save-A-Life Foundation? Would you also
please make arrangements for that employee to contact me?

Thank you for your continued attention to this matter. I look forward to your reply.

1
Sincerely,

Gordon T. Pratt
PO Box 18121
Milwaukee, WI 53218

Ph: (707)667-1746
e-mail: gordy.pratt@gmail.com

cc:

The Daily Herald

Kimberly Pohl, Anne Halston

Encl:

July 17, 2009 Daily Herald article

Web page (accessed today): http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/salf.shtm

2
 DaflyHeiald
Big Picture . Local Focus
Suit dropped as Save A Life changes mission
By Kimberly Pohl | Daily Herald Staff

Published: 7/15/2009 5:27 PM j

Two years after filing a defamation lawsuit to repair its tarnished image, Save A Life Foundation of suburban Schiller Park
has closed its doors for good.

The high-profile nonprofit organization, which taught schoolchildren first aid techniques such as the Heimlich maneuver,
ceased operations on July 1. Days later, Save A Life's attorney filed a motion to drop the suit against three men accused
of organizing a smear campaign against the foundation and harassing employees and board members, among them
ex-Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins.

Founder Carol Spizzirri said the legal action became too costly to pursue, but declined to say exactly why she shuttered
an organization she said helped more than 1 million children. The lawsuit claimed the defendants' actions caused lost
business opportunities and partnerships.

"There's certainly a connection (between the closing and the lawsuit) but I don't want to go into it," Spizzirri said. "We're
not supposed to discuss the case."

Named in the suit was Peter Heimlich, estranged son of maneuver namesake Dr. Henry Heimlich, who served on Save A
Life's medical advisory board. A blogger and a doctor critical of the Heimlich maneuver were also defendants.

Chuck Goudie, an ABC 7 reporter and Daily Herald columnist, was briefly part of the suit for a derogatory report he did on
Save A Life, but the case against him was dropped in March 2008. His report questioned Spizzirri's credentials and said
the foundation, which received millions of dollars in government money and corporate donations, was misappropriating
funds and teaching the maneuver inappropriately - all falsehoods, according to the lawsuit.

Spizzirri's new focus is fighting the type of online stalking outlined in the suit. She has a meeting scheduled later this
month with several legislators and has been working with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office.

"Cyberworld is the Wild West with absolutely no governance," Spizzirri said. "Anyone can say terrible things about
people, put it on the Internet and nobody can do anything about it. Reputations and credibility are ruined."

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Save A Life Foundation
Save A Life Foundation, a national non-profit, empowering school age students (K-12)
with basic life supporting first aid skills to render aid to the injured or ill in an emergency,
whether natural, accidental, or man-made; providing youth a clear understanding of the
role of emergency medical service professionals while encouraging students to consider
emergency medical service as a possible career choice.
Learn more by visiting www.salf.org.
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