Providing free, life-saving heart surgeries
Erkhemsolongo | Mongolia
Life Saved in 2023
Leonard | Uganda
Life Saved in 2024
Oliver | Cuba
Life Saved in 2023
Together, we can provide access to specialized cardiac care for children born with congenital heart defects.
Since HeartGift was founded in 2000, we’ve had one goal: to provide access to life-saving surgery for children with congenital heart defects. With one million children lacking access to specialized medicine, the problem is huge, but we have the solution. Our goal will not be accomplished until every child with a congenital heart defect has access to the one life-saving surgery they need.
Where they live should not determine whether they live.
2,000+
lives saved
10 Countries
surgeries delivered
88¢
of every dollar to mission
Meet our founders
HeartGift was founded in Austin, Texas, in 2000 by Dr. John "Chip" Oswalt and businessman Ray Wilkerson. After learning of children in developing countries who needed heart surgery but lacked access to care, Dr. Oswalt, a cardiothoracic surgeon, recognized the urgency of their conditions. The two friends discussed the global challenge and developed a plan.
With the generous support of Austin’s medical and business communities as well as many friends and sponsors, Mr. Wilkerson and Dr. Oswalt raised funds and brought their very first patient to Austin in 2000, 11-year-old Vicky from Honduras. After a successful surgery, HeartGift was born, providing life-saving care at no cost to families.
Board of Directors
Stephen Garrison
Board Chair
Tim Brierty
Vice Chair
Brenda Barrett
Secretary
Tish Sauerhoff
Treasurer
Jessica Bess
San Antonio Board Chair
Bryan Burkhart
Rick Danielson
Louisiana Board Chair
Sharon Dobbs
Bob Herrin
Houston Board Chair
Rohit Jha
Kristy Knippa
Jan Larsen
Sonu Panda
Jeff Woodham
Karen L. Wright, MD
Medical Director
John D. Oswalt, MD
Founder Emeritus
Ray Wilkerson
Founder Emeritus
Community Impact Boards
Community members and business professionals help guide and fuel HeartGift’s work locally.
- Houston
Bob Herrin, Board Chair
Gillette Burns, Treasurer
Liz Herndon, Secretary
Whitney Ahern, MSN, APRN, CPNP-AC
Clarisa Alcantar, MSN, RN, CV-BC
Lary Barton
Bethany Buchanan
Kent Coopwood
Kimberly Coopwood
Jean Gaines
Laurie Hummel
Jordan Jewett
Jan Larsen
Julie Miller
Mohammed Numan, MD
Brittany Owen, MD
Jamie Roberts
Jorge Salazar, MD
Adam Taylor
Steven Westbrook
- Louisiana
Rick Danielson, Board Chair
Emad Jabbar, Vice Chair
Tim Aubin, Treasurer
Doris Schutte, Secretary
Mark W. Brown
Glen Durham
Rev. Deogratias Ekisa
Maureen Huguley
Ahmad Jabbar, MD
Claire Koch
Jenny Mains, MD
Katherine Miller, MEd, ATC, LAT
Larry Palestina
Timothy Pettitt, MD
Lyle Pocha
Mike Rase
Meredith Smith
Stephen Temes, RN
Matt Timmons
- San Antonio
Jessica Bess, Board Chair
Charlie Cowles, Treasurer
Charlie Deacon
Jimi Ellis
Leni Kirkman
Lawrence Kostiw
Allison Hays Lane
Danny Nino
Kelly Preston
Shehmir Sherali
Staff
Christy Casey-Moore
Chief Executive Officer
Janna Altmann
Executive Director Houston
Kimberly Atteberry
Office Manager
Stephanie Berault
Executive Director Louisiana
Monica Bradley
Accounting|Finance Director
Shelby Holt
Brand Manager
Morgan Johnson
Development Specialist
Kristi Jones
VP Marketing|Fund Development
Sonya Keeling
Program Manager
Brenna Kody
Patient Coordinator Houston
Evangeline Landry
Development Manager Louisiana
Deb Perry
Senior Marketing|PR Manager
Irene Turnbull-May
Executive Director San Antonio
Erica Yaeger
Patient Coordinator Louisiana
Amber Stefanick
Senior Development Manager
I give, so children from all over the world have the chance to grow up healthy and just be kids again.
- Bret Sanders
Former HeartGift Houston Board Chair
Sanders Morris Harris | Ryan Sanders Baseball
Houston, Texas
Former HeartGift Houston Board Chair
Sanders Morris Harris
Ryan Sanders Baseball
Houston, Texas
Yamilet | Bolivia
Life Saved in 2022
Our Work
Over 1 million children are born each year with congenital heart defects (CHD), and only 10% of them have access to the specialized medical care they need. We’ve been on a mission since 2000 to ensure that every child with a CHD has access to the life-saving care they need, and with help from generous supporters like you, we’re making great strides and saving more lives.
