Children's Heart Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Children’s Heart Foundation is a United States
health charity
, whose mission is to fund the most promising research to advance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of congenital heart defects in children. It was founded in 1996 by Betsy Peterson, who recognized the need for an organization whose sole purpose is to fund this type of research after her 8-year-old son, Sam, died from multiple organ failure brought upon by a sudden heart related collapse.
A congenital heart defect
(CHD) is a defect in the structure of the heart and great vessels of a newborn. Most heart defects either obstruct blood flow in the heart or vessels near it or cause blood to flow through the heart in an abnormal pattern, although other defects affecting heart rhythm such as long QT syndrome can also occur.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/long-qt-syndrome/DS00434 Heart defects are among the most common birth defects and congenital birth defects are the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths. http://stanford.wellsphere.com/vitamins-supplements-article/leading-cause-of-infant-death-congenital-birth-defects/439971
As of 2007, The Children’s Heart Foundation has joined forces with the Adult Congenital Heart Associationhttp://www.achaheart.org /(ACHA) and the Congenital Heart Information Network (CHIN)http://tchin.org/ to form the National Congenital Heart Coalition.http://www.littlehearts.net/news.html
Facts about CHD's
• CHDs are the #1 birth defect in the world http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/4439_1212.asp
• CHDs affect approximately one out of every 100 births, or more than 35,000 babies each year http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/chd/chd_what.html
• CHDs are fully responsible for one third of all birth defect-related deaths
• More than 50 percent of all children born with a CHD will require at least one invasive surgery in their lifetime http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/about/factsheets.html
• More than 91,000 life years are lost each year in the United States because of CHD's http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/about/factsheets.html
FUNDRAISING
The Children’s Heart Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation that holds activities across the United States to raise awareness of Congenital Heart Defects and to raise money to be used for research. One of their most popular events is the annual “Hearts at Play” celebration held in Chicago. Other events include golf outings, charitable walks, and galas. The Children’s Heart Foundation also accepts donations via mail or their website.
To date, CHF has funded 37 research projects totaling over $3.4 million. Several of these studies supported by CHF continue to be funded by the National Institutes of Health
. In the past decade, death rates for congenital heart defects have declined by 30 percent because of the advances made through research. Much of the research focus is based upon but not limited to:
• Molecular genetics
/biochemistry
• Devices/procedural research (catheterization and surgical)
• Long term care of CHD children as they become adults
FUND ALLOCATION
The Children’s Heart Foundation is the only organization that strictly funds research for congenital heart defects. The CHF is not affiliated with any one medical institution or organization. Rather, the foundation relies on a Medical Advisory Boardhttp://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/about/staff.html to make recommendations on which research is the most relevant and in need of funding. Money raised in any one calendar year funds research done that same year.
NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON
MacKinzie Kline
is an international golf champion and one of the most promising junior golfers in the country.
She was born with a Single Ventricle with Transposition of the Greater Vessels. “Mac” has benefited greatly from
heart defect research and now actively promotes awareness of the Children’s Heart Foundation.
EXTERNAL LINKS
Official Website http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org
Adult Congenital Heart Association Website http://www.achaheart.org
Little Hearts Website http://www.littlehearts.net
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
health charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, whose mission is to fund the most promising research to advance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of congenital heart defects in children. It was founded in 1996 by Betsy Peterson, who recognized the need for an organization whose sole purpose is to fund this type of research after her 8-year-old son, Sam, died from multiple organ failure brought upon by a sudden heart related collapse.
A congenital heart defect
Congenital heart defect
A congenital heart defect is a defect in the structure of the heart and great vessels which is present at birth. Many types of heart defects exist, most of which either obstruct blood flow in the heart or vessels near it, or cause blood to flow through the heart in an abnormal pattern. Other...
(CHD) is a defect in the structure of the heart and great vessels of a newborn. Most heart defects either obstruct blood flow in the heart or vessels near it or cause blood to flow through the heart in an abnormal pattern, although other defects affecting heart rhythm such as long QT syndrome can also occur.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/long-qt-syndrome/DS00434 Heart defects are among the most common birth defects and congenital birth defects are the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths. http://stanford.wellsphere.com/vitamins-supplements-article/leading-cause-of-infant-death-congenital-birth-defects/439971
As of 2007, The Children’s Heart Foundation has joined forces with the Adult Congenital Heart Associationhttp://www.achaheart.org /(ACHA) and the Congenital Heart Information Network (CHIN)http://tchin.org/ to form the National Congenital Heart Coalition.http://www.littlehearts.net/news.html
Facts about CHD's
• CHDs are the #1 birth defect in the world http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/4439_1212.asp
• CHDs affect approximately one out of every 100 births, or more than 35,000 babies each year http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/chd/chd_what.html
• CHDs are fully responsible for one third of all birth defect-related deaths
• More than 50 percent of all children born with a CHD will require at least one invasive surgery in their lifetime http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/about/factsheets.html
• More than 91,000 life years are lost each year in the United States because of CHD's http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/about/factsheets.html
FUNDRAISING
The Children’s Heart Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation that holds activities across the United States to raise awareness of Congenital Heart Defects and to raise money to be used for research. One of their most popular events is the annual “Hearts at Play” celebration held in Chicago. Other events include golf outings, charitable walks, and galas. The Children’s Heart Foundation also accepts donations via mail or their website.
To date, CHF has funded 37 research projects totaling over $3.4 million. Several of these studies supported by CHF continue to be funded by the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
. In the past decade, death rates for congenital heart defects have declined by 30 percent because of the advances made through research. Much of the research focus is based upon but not limited to:
• Molecular genetics
Molecular genetics
Molecular genetics is the field of biology and genetics that studies the structure and function of genes at a molecular level. The field studies how the genes are transferred from generation to generation. Molecular genetics employs the methods of genetics and molecular biology...
/biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
• Devices/procedural research (catheterization and surgical)
• Long term care of CHD children as they become adults
FUND ALLOCATION
The Children’s Heart Foundation is the only organization that strictly funds research for congenital heart defects. The CHF is not affiliated with any one medical institution or organization. Rather, the foundation relies on a Medical Advisory Boardhttp://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/about/staff.html to make recommendations on which research is the most relevant and in need of funding. Money raised in any one calendar year funds research done that same year.
NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON
MacKinzie Kline
MacKinzie Kline
MacKinzie Kline is an American female golfer who suffers from a heart defect known as heterotaxy syndrome as a result of being born with only one ventricle...
is an international golf champion and one of the most promising junior golfers in the country.
She was born with a Single Ventricle with Transposition of the Greater Vessels. “Mac” has benefited greatly from
heart defect research and now actively promotes awareness of the Children’s Heart Foundation.
EXTERNAL LINKS
Official Website http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org
Adult Congenital Heart Association Website http://www.achaheart.org
Little Hearts Website http://www.littlehearts.net