Did you know that 1 in 100 children are born with congenial heart disease and 94% do not have access to the healthcare they need? Over the past two years, Heart4Heart has helped raise money for 15 children to receive life-saving cardiac surgeries.
Heart4Heart is the first and only college chapter of Gift of Life International, an international nonprofit dedicated to raising money to provide cardiac surgeries for children in third world countries. Gift of Life International also funds doctor training and exchange as well as post-surgery nutrition programs. Currently, Gift of Life International is working with children in Uganda, Jamaica, and El Salvador.
President Taylor Pitkowsky founded the Ithaca College chapter of Heart4Heart two years ago. She said that it was a perfect opportunity to combine her love of raising money for charity and giving back to children. In addition to planning fundraisers, Pitkowsky leads the chapter in completing bracelets to send to the children who Gift of Life International works with.
Pitkowsky says, “my favorite part about Heart4Heart is seeing the difference we make. [Gift of Life International has] before and after pictures [of the children], and you can tell there’s a big difference. We just received a picture of one of the children who got one of the bracelets we made, and he had such a big smile on his face.”
Currently, Heart4Heart is working to raise money for a 3-year old girl in El Salvador (pictured above) whose family has an income of only $6 a day (USD). Each surgery costs $1,000 (USD). Later this semester, the founder of Gift of Life International will be coming to campus to talk about his work in nonprofit and what he has seen in the many different countries he has been to. His talk, titled “See the World, Heal the World” will focus on how students in any major can be involved in Heart4Heart’s mission.
During two upcoming general body meetings on March 24 and April 28, Heart4Heart will be making bracelets that will be sent to children in Jamaica. They also have a larger event planned on April 7 in IC Square where guests can make bracelets, color, and participate in other crafts.
Heart4Heart meets every Tuesday night from 8:00 to 9:00 pm in Friends 302. All are welcome. Visit their Facebook or OrgSync page for more information and to help in making a difference.
To learn how other student organizations are also making a difference click here.
