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.
3,000+
lives saved 13 Countries
providing surgeries 90¢
of every dollar to missionMeet our founders
HeartGift was founded in Austin, Texas, in 2000 by Dr. John D. "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
Tim Brierty
Board Chair
Brenda Barrett
Secretary
Rohit Jha
Finance Chair
Charlie Cowles
San Antonio Board Chair
Rick Danielson
Louisiana Board Chair
Sharon Dobbs
Stephen Garrison
Liz Herndon
Houston Board Chair
Kristy Knippa
Jan Larsen
Sonu Panda
Karen L. Wright, MD
Medical Director
John D. "Chip" Oswalt, MD
Founder Emeritus
Ray Wilkerson
Founder Emeritus
Tim Brierty
Board Chair
Brenda Barrett
Secretary
Rohit Jha
Finance Chair
Charlie Cowles
San Antonio Board Chair
Rick Danielson
Louisiana Board Chair
Sharon Dobbs
Stephen Garrison
Liz Herndon
Houston Board Chair
Kristy Knippa
Jan Larsen
Sonu Panda
Karen L. Wright, MD
Medical Director
John D. "Chip" 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
Liz Herndon, Board Chair
Bob Herrin, Treasurer
Kimberly Coopwood, Secretary
Lary Barton
Holly Bauser-Heaton, MD
Bethany Buchanan
Kent Coopwood
Laurie Hummel
Jordan Jewett
Damien LaPar, MD
Mohammed Numan, MD
Brittany Owen, MD
Jamie Roberts
Adam Taylor
Steven Westbrook
ADVISORY BOARD
Gillette Burns
SharaLynn Fenn
Jan Larsen
Frost Murphy
Bret Sanders
Jerry Windlinger
- Louisiana
Rick Danielson, Board Chair
Emad Jabbar, Vice Chair
Tim Aubin, Treasurer
Doris Schutte, Secretary
Stephanie Berault
Amy Brumfield
Glen Durham
Rev. Deogratias Ekisa
Ryan Hildebrand
Maureen Huguley
Ahmad Jabbar, MD
Claire Koch
Jenny Mains, MD
Katherine Miller, MEd, ATC, LAT
Larry Palestina
Timothy Pettitt, MD
Lyle Pocha
Mike Rase
Stephen Temes, RN
Matt Timmons
ADVISORY BOARD
Steven Ballard
Linda Baum
Shelly Breaux
Mark W. Brown
Winnie Brown
Sandra Cahill
Leslie Ehret
Deb Frilot
John Herren
Whitfield Huguley, IV
Cole LeBourgeois
Mary Mouton
Kara Schonberg
- San Antonio
Charlie Cowles, Board Chair
Jess Bess, Treasurer
Charlie Deacon
Jimi Ellis
Jim Glick
Leni Kirkman
Lawrence Kostiw
Allison Hays Lane
Danny Nino
Kelly Preston
Shehmir Sherali
ADVISORY BOARD
Chuck Brown
Joe Mims
Ethel Runion
Lauren Willers
Staff
Christy Casey-Moore
Chief Executive Officer
Janna Altmann
Executive Director Houston
Kimberly Atteberry
Accounts Payable Receivable Manager
Leeza Bedolla
Mission Advancement Coordinator San Antonio
Monica Bradley
Accounting|Finance Director
Lia Chesney
Social Media Coordinator
Candace Guittard
Office Manager
Shelby Holt
Brand Manager
Amy Jackson, CFRE
Vice President Development
Morgan Johnson
Development Specialist
Kristi Jones
Vice President
Marketing | Communications
Sonya Keeling
Program Director
Madeleine Davis Kelly
Executive Director Louisiana
Brenna Kody
Mission Advancement Coordinator Houston
Illeana Levy
Event Marketing Coordinator
Millie Martin
Senior Development Manager
Deborah Perry
Senior Marketing|PR Manager
Brian Polak
Grant Writer
Amber Stefanick
Development Strategy Manager
Irene Turnbull-May
Executive Director San Antonio
Erica Yaeger
Mission Advancement Coordinator
Louisiana
Christy Casey-Moore
Chief Executive Officer
Janna Altmann
Executive Director Houston
Kimberly Atteberry
Office Manager
Leeza Bedolla
Mission Advancement Coordinator
San Antonio
Monica Bradley
Accounting|Finance Director
Lia Chesney
Social Media Coordinator
Shelby Holt
Brand Manager
Amy Jackson, CFRE
Vice President Development
Morgan Johnson
Development Specialist
Kristi Jones
Vice President
Marketing | Communications
Sonya Keeling
Program Director
Madeleine Davis Kelly
Executive Director Louisiana
Brenna Kody
Mission Advancement Coordinator
Houston
Illeana Levy
Event Marketing Coordinator
Millie Martin
Senior Development Manager
Deb Perry
Senior Marketing|PR Manager
Brian Polak
Grant Writer
Amber Stefanick
Development Strategy Manager
Irene Turnbull-May
Executive Director San Antonio
Erica Yaeger
Mission Advancement Coordinator
Louisiana
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.
