HeartGift is a nonprofit organization that provides life-saving congenital heart defect surgery to children worldwide. Established in 2000, HeartGift began its work in Austin, Texas, and now has chapters in multiple cities, and provides surgeries in the United States, Africa, Asia, and South America. Through partnerships with children’s hospitals around the globe and thanks to generous sponsors, more than 1,000 children from 36 countries have received life-saving care at no cost to their families.
“You can give the gift of life and help provide critical heart surgery for these children by donating your time and money.”– Reese Ryan, Former Foundation Board Chair
Blessing, Uganda
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Provide a life-saving heart surgery.
Mission Impact
HeartGift provides life-saving heart surgeries to children from around the world where specialized medical treatment is either scarce or nonexistent. One million children are born with congenital heart defects each year, and only 10% have access to appropriate medical care.
In industrialized countries such as the United States, the corrective surgery is accessible and provided to those in need, regardless of financial capacity or geographic location. In 2000, HeartGift was founded to address this disparity of care and since its inception, has served more than 1,000 children from 36 countries, with chapters in Austin, San Antonio, New Orleans and Houston, and partnerships around the globe.
“You can give the gift of life and help provide critical heart surgery for these children by donating your time and money. HeartGift exists because of theses passionate volunteers, and with your support we will continue to save lives of these children.”– Maryann Bell, Foundation Board Member
Maryann Bell
Board Chair
Stephen Garrison
Vice Chair
Bryan Burkhart
Treasurer
Jeff Woodham
SecretaryWe Need Your Help
Find out how you can help us save lives
With your support we will continue to save precious lives, one HeartGift at a time.
Umaakhan, Mongolia
“I’m involved because HeartGift has provided life saving surgeries to children from outside the U.S. in need by an outstanding group of health care professionals and hospitals within our network, and the dedicated effort of the founders, Dr. John “Chip” Oswalt and Ray Wilkerson, and the many others over the years to make this program a great success.”
“Most of these children would not survive past their first birthday without medical intervention. Consistently, not only do we see an improved life for the child but also the parents and caregivers of these children. In some instances, these parents will travel 10+ hours a day/ 2 times a week seeking medical treatment. But not having these burdens of seeking care, it allows parents to focus on caring for their children’s lives in a normal manner. It allows the children to go to school, it allows the parents to work full-time and/ or even enter school themselves.”
