every
15 minutes a baby is born with a congenital heart defect
over 90% don’t have access to care
Thais, Bolivia
A MESSAGE FROM
LEADERSHIP
As Board Chairman, it has been my mission to honor the vision of
Jimmy, Belize
our co-founders, helping as many children as possible to have access to the life-saving care they need. In 2019, we made great strides in expanding our programs in the United States and through medical missions. Through the generosity of our donors and volunteers, we have provided heart surgery to over 450 children who would not have access to this care without our help. As we move into our 20th year, we are excited to celebrate the accomplishments to date, while also developing strategies for more growth and expansion, and ultimately helping more children. Thank you for your dedication to our mission. With your continued support, we will accomplish these goals.
Reese Ryan Chairman of the Board
Looking back on 19 years of providing life-saving heart surgeries to children from around the world, I can’t help but feel much pride about all that we’ve accomplished. Our efforts are only possible because of the incredible support we receive from YOU, our dedicated volunteers and donors, and for that, I say thank you! In 2019, we welcomed 29 children and their families to the United States and had the opportunity to provide surgeries for 32 more through our medical missions in Bolivia and Kenya. Additionally, our Foundation Board of Directors and Community Impact Boards worked diligently on our expansion efforts into Panama and Kenya, which will allow us to help even more children. At the chapter level, capacity was increased in almost every city, and our relationships with our partner hospitals continue to thrive. We are grateful for their partnerships. We continue to be surrounded by and supported by the best, brightest, and most passionate people with hearts for serving. Our Board pushes us to think bigger, all in the interest of caring for more children. Our staff is committed to the work we do and equally as passionate about providing the very best care to some of the world’s most vulnerable children. Thank you for believing in our mission! It’s amazing to be part of this!
Christy Casey-Moore Chief Executive Officer
MISSION HeartGift provides life-saving congenital heart defect surgery to children from around the world where specialized medical treatment is either scarce or non-existent.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STAFF
Reese Ryan, Chair Frost Murphy, Vice Chair Sharon Dobbs, Secretary Maryann Bell, Treasurer Tim Brierty Bryan Burkhart Stephen Garrison Maureen Huguley Shruti Jha Claire Koch
Christy Casey-Moore
Tim LaFrey Jan Larsen Karen Looby David Mebane Jamie Roberts Dean Wilkerson Lauren Willers Jeff Woodham Dr. Karen Wright Dr. Frank Zidar
Dr. John “Chip” Oswalt, Founder Emeritus Ray Wilkerson, Founder Emeritus
Stephanie Berault Mary Choate Marie Gehrlein Kristi Jones Sonya Keeling Monica Mott Erin Rushforth Jori Sitz Irene Turnbull-May Sandra Valdes Rachael Wright
HELPING CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES For all of the children we serve, just one surgery can save their lives. By bringing children to the United States to have this surgery, we are providing them with the best medical care, and setting them up for success and a lifetime of opportunity when they return home. Our program model is built to accept children that do not need intensive medical follow-up after surgery. The average cost of each surgery is $25,000, which includes travel, hospital fees/medical costs, prescriptions, and child/caregiver expenses. We are fortunate to have dedicated medical partners who generously donate their time and services to perform surgeries and local families who open their homes to care for the HeartGift child and their caregiver.
STEP FIVE The child goes home happy and healthy!
STEP FOUR The child undergoes life-saving heart surgery with one of our medical partners and begins recovery with their host family.
STEP THREE The host family provides a warm, loving home to the child and their caregiver as well as assisting them to the doctor appointments preparing for surgery.
STEP TWO The child is flown to the United States with a caregiver to stay with a host family.
Daniella, Philippines
STEP ONE After very careful consideration, a child is selected by our medical committee.
AROUND THE WORLD
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES Each year, HeartGift partners with a team of surgeons and medical professionals to perform surgeries in Bolivia. To date, we’ve served 67 children. Additionally, we work with local organizations in Kenya where appropriate surgical facilities exist to fund, train and educate medical teams to perform life-saving heart surgeries in their home country.
HEARTGIFT
BY THE NUMBERS $2,217,698 TOTAL REVENUE
971
1,387
TOTAL DONORS
CHILDREN SERVED
61
Swalha, Uganda
INDIVIDUAL GIFTS
IN 2019
29 IN UNITED STATES 24 IN BOLIVIA 8 IN KENYA
480 TOTAL 34 COUNTRIES FROM
195% INCREASE IN CHILDREN SERVED SINCE 2010
AUDITED FINANCIALS REVENUES Contributions
$1,567,876
Non-Medical In-Kind
$67,414
Grants
$560,753
Investment Income
$21,655
TOTAL
$2,217,698
EXPENSES Program
$1,394,894
General
$199,618
Fundraising
$476,668
TOTAL
$2,071,180
AMOUNT PAID TO HOSPITALS
$551,212
$9,156,357 VALUE OF MEDICAL SERVICES RECEIVED
6
VOLUNTEERS & FRIENDS
LOCATIONS
29
AUSTIN
HOUSTON
BOLIVIA
LOUISIANA
KENYA
SAN ANTONIO
7 HOSPITALS
100+
Medical Professionals
HOST FAMILIES
24,080 TOTAL HOURS VOLUNTEERED
276
TOTAL VOLUNTEERS
70 BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS
100%
THANKS TOÂ YOU, 100% OF SURGERIES ARE FREE TO THE FAMILIES WE SERVE
1 in 100 children globally need our help
For every $1 donated, we receive $16 in donated medical care
BEFORE
ZEDDRICK , Philippines After searching for many months for help for her son, Zeddrick’s mother was relieved and excited to finally find HeartGift and have her son’s case accepted. Zeddrick and Mary made the long journey to the United States, and he was very ill when he arrived. An emergency room visit resulted in an influenza diagnosis. The host family cared for him very well while he recovered from the flu, and on November 5, Zeddrick finally received the surgery that his mother had worked so hard to find for him. Almost immediately, there were visible signs of a perfectly functioning heart! Zeddrick’s blue lips and fingers turned pink and he went from being a small, frail child to a healthy, growing boy in a matter of days. He gained nearly seven pounds post-surgery before returning home. Today, he is a normal, healthy toddler, learning to walk, and is reaching age-appropriate milestones. Just one surgery saved his life – one surgery that he may not have received without the support of HeartGift and all who believe in our mission. Saving lives never gets old!
ALIZEE , Belize At 5 months old, Alizee became very ill. Several doctor’s visits later, Alizee was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect which was causing breathlessness, difficulty eating and failure to thrive. Once accepted to HeartGift, Alizee’s travel to San Antonio was expedited because of the severity of her condition. Doctors at University Hospital repaired Alizee's heart, and she surprised everyone by recovering very quickly. In the week after leaving the hospital, she gained three pounds! Since returning home, Alizee is happy and healthy, celebrated her first birthday (Unicorn Princess style) and since has become a big sister! Her mother sends frequent updates and is so grateful to have found HeartGift and all the people who helped save her daughter’s life.
RE BEFO
BEFORE
ERLIN
, Honduras
Eleven year old Erlin is from a rural community in Honduras where his family relies on farming for their daily life. Erlin suffered from many symptoms related to his congenital heart defect, including limited oxygen, clubbed fingers and bloodshot eyes. He was so sick that his mother was too afraid to let him attend school. Each Sunday his father carried him on a half hour walk so that he could attend church with his family as Erlin could not walk that distance. He underwent open heart surgery at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and almost immediately began to show signs of improvement. After only one month in the United States, Erlin was cleared to go home – undoubtedly much healthier than when he arrived. The contrast in Erlin before and after surgery was astonishing to both volunteers and medical professionals. Seeing his skin, eyes, energy level and overall confidence change was a joy to all who encountered this amazing boy. Back in Honduras, Erlin is growing like a weed, he can participate in physical activities without tiring and according to his father, he is grabbing his life back. He was initially receiving reading, writing and math classes at home with a family member, and in January 2020 he began attending school. Thanks to a small army of loving medical professionals and community volunteers who poured their hearts into mending Erlin’s, he is now set up to live a life with no limits.
BOUSHRA
, Burkina Faso
When Boushra and her twin sister were born in late 2017, their mother knew quickly that something was wrong. She would lay the girls next to each other and watch one breathe normally while the other struggled. Although she would eventually find a doctor who would diagnose Boushra with a large hole in her heart, there was no hope of finding help to repair it. Over the first year of her life, Boushra failed to thrive. She would not drink milk and because of her heart defect she could not eat enough to sustain her weight. Boushra was getting dangerously weak when a family member was finally able to connect the family to HeartGift. Upon arrival in Louisiana, Boushra was quickly admitted to Children’s Hospital to begin treatment for severe malnutrition. She had to gain strength before surgeons could repair her heart. After her heart repair, she was treated for the many health problems related to her malnutrition. The change in Boushra over the course of her time in Louisiana was dramatic. She returned home healthy, gaining both strength and weight quickly. Boushra’s mom continues to send notes of her overwhelming gratitude to now have two healthy girls. How amazing to be part of this family’s story!
E BEFOR
HeartGift 3310 W. Braker Lane Bldg II, Ste 300 #704 Austin, TX 78758
Yujia, China