I’ve been talking about PR now as a focus, and I’m sharing with you there is really nothing better than philanthropy. In a time when everyone not connected to the stock market, seems to be suffering. Land owners are selling of land, and letting people go. Honest generosity, in these extreme conditions, captures heart and souls in al ways. And within wine, my best example of that kind of heart and soul is Ron Rubin.

He doesn’t give from his heart to make an impression. Nay, he gives from his heart, because his father told him to do so. I’m chuckling, and so are you, but it’s the honest truth. It’s one of the first things he told me, while we were interviewing each other, for his PR job. And, this is the crux. He took it to heart, which enlarged his, to the point that he knew what his next philanthropy was going to be.

Ron Rubin’s AED program successfully placed 450 AED’s around the United States.

Beginning with a disclaimer, I’ve worked with Ron Rubin as a publicist, on and off for years. This particular story is of my own inclination. I’m writing it on my own, so it’s not part of my duties with Ron Rubin. It will be as much a surprise to him as it is to anyone else reading it. When someone is this amazing, using my own voice, time, effort, freedom, and gratis to enjoy telling heartwarming stories is refreshing. Also, when something powerful happens, and it has, this one is still a great story to tell.

In Nelson Mandela’s Words

“It always seems impossible, until it is done,” and it’s done. Rubin’s TRAINED FOR SAVING LIVES PROGRAM was created as a non-profit. Initially it was paired with the American Red Cross for training, and 450 ZOLL Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) were purchased. At the end of the program, 450 were placed in wineries around the U.S., all due to Ron Rubin’s imagination and generosity.

Achieving dreams and leading wisely is a concept that Ron Rubin authored, called “Gold In Your Back Yard.” Ron Rubin published it, while also managing his River Road Family Vineyards and Winery. He’s also associated with The Republic Of Tea, which he purchased from Mel and Patricia Ziegler years ago.

This TFSL program has successfully placed 450 AEDs around the USA. I know, because I was there with him most of the time, to our finish line.

Covid Interrupted The Flow, Though

Covid had a slowdown, and then TRAINED FOR SAVING LIVES came back into vogue. Ron was a stabilizing and devoted factor throughout the entire process. He also wrote about his dreams being realized in the process. I’m certain to say, if anyone successfully and brilliantly achieves his dreams in life, it is Ron Rubin. That I’ve learned firsthand, since beginning to help him 15 years ago.

Firfteen years later, and I’m still in awe of his wisdom, spirit, and “let’s go get it done!” attitude. He dares to think larger than life and he keeps going until that dream is realized, no matter how long it takes.

Trained for Saving Live

That’s What This Story Is About

Dream And Persist To Conclusion

Ron Rubin recently published his book Gold In Your Back Yard. Some of us know him from River Road Family Vineyards and Winery and The Republic Of Tea, but he’s more than that, and he’s also been publishing books as he’s gone along. He pointedly serves his life’s passions. It was during the last chunk of time when I became devoted to his TRAINED FOR SAVING LIVES program. As an afterthought, I’m betting that on any sleepless nights, he’s evaluating how to make the world a better place. It just doesn’t stop.

Ron Rubin’s Gold In Your Back Yard

Ron Wanted It Capitalized

Ron wanted his “TRAINED FOR SAVING LIVES” words to all be capitalized, emphasizing this project as being so important. Please don’t misunderstand: it was not for his own thinking, but for the potential of saving yet another life. You see, he was preparing for a triathlon and suffered a cardiac arrest. In his life, historical experiences need balance, since his father advised him about caring for the community that’s cared for him. So I went after every heart and soul I could find, for years. We thought it would be a slam dunk, but it was like saying to many, “I have a free tooth extraction for you.” They just weren’t ready.

Clarifying The Differences

I had to first learn the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest, in order to help other people also understand the importance of timing. A heart attack happens, and the person still has time to be helped, while still living and breathing, although not comfortably for sure.

A cardiac arrest, on the other hand, is instantaneous, like Damar Hamlin’s collapse during his football game. He had to be immediately removed from the field, because his heart just stopped, as it does with an arrest. The window for saving a life from a cardiac arrest is only about eight minutes. An AED is an urgent item to have on any public wall, honestly, and I know where mine is available, let’s just say.

Next was how to present it in such a way that people really understood Ron’s immense generosity. My grandfather suffered coronary thrombosis and was gone when my grandmother found him. Neither Ron nor I really want anyone else to live through this, which made a perfect empathetic fit for each of us.

When time is of the essence

He Saw It Coming

Ron Rubin’s support and dream of saving a life is in place, and it is highly likely that it will be successful. In fact, the day after one was placed on the East Coast, he was called about someone going down in their winery. Due to the entire staff’s training the day before, no one panicked. It was a cakewalk, and the person never even got to the panicking part of a heart attack. Yes, heart attack interrupted. When Ron shared with me and I cried. It had been a phone call I had made, he delivered, and we got to feel it in action.

People’s feedback stories were amazing and kept Ron committed to the success of TRAINED FOR SAVING LIVES. Days weren’t as memorable as moments, and at times I felt like I was begging, for something so meaningful. One by one they came rolling in, when I shifted to the East Coast, still it took personal outreach. I’ve always thrived as an independent, yet we went through bureaucracy. It left nothing to question for anyone, and I felt like a repetitive Chatty Cathy doll, but we did it.

There were finally 450 AEDs placed, not just in Sonoma County, but it became the United States project for us.

Annapolis, Maryland coastal wineries

Winery Background Singer

Some winery advocacy groups just ran with the message, and none of this would have happened without them. Sonoma County Country Wine Association’s Director Michael jumped right on board. River Road Family Vineyards and Winery is based in Sonoma County, so it made sense to him to be there.

There’s been 450 AED’s placed, not just in Sonoma County, but it became the United States project. Some winery advocacy groups just ran with the message and none of this would have happened, without them. Sonoma County Country Wine Associations’ Director Michael jumped right on board. River Road Family Business and Winery is based in Sonoma County, so it made sense to him to being there.

© Jo Diaz, August 1, 2026, All rights reserved.

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Written by Jo Diaz, a partner of Diaz Communications, who is helping to make stars realize their dreams.
Edited by partner Jose Diaz.

To reprint, please contact Jo Diaz: jo@diaz-communications.com

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