Nonprofit November: Children's Heart Foundation-Florida Chapter

Here is some information on a Florida chapter of a national organization raising awareness and research funds to help our kids. This Tampa-based state chapter started with a personal story and continues to seek support for its mission.

NONPROFIT NAME
Children's Heart Foundation - Florida Chapter

WHAT'S IT ABOUT
According to a 2000 report from the March of Dimes, congenital heart defects are the #1 birth defect in the U.S., affecting nearly 1% of all newborns or 1 of every 100 births. The American Heart Association reports that nearly twice as many children die from congenital heart disease in the US each year than all forms of childhood cancers combined. In early 2001, a congenital heart defect survivor, Steven Graham, called the national office of Children's Heart Foundation and spoke to its founder, Betsy Peterson and within a year, created the Florida chapter, the organization's first state chapter to be formed, due to the hard work of Graham and Ellen Weiss, whose daughter was born with tetralogy of Fallot. Weiss was looking for a way to help improve the lives of all children and adults who suffer from CHD and ended up serving as the CHF Florida's first president. Followed by successor Marlee Huggins and now Dr. Mark J. Hepp as president, this organization's Florida chapter continues to raise awareness and funds for congenital heart defect research

WHO IT SUPPORTS
Children with congenital heart defects across the Bay area and state of Florida

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Since the national Children's Heart Foundation launched in 1996, it's funded over $3 million in research projects related to congenital heart defects but more work is needed to get to the root causes of CHDs. The Florida Chapter seeks donations to raise funds for further medical research about congenital heart defects.

WHERE TO LEARN MORE
Tel: 727.422.0912
Website: www.chfflorida.org