Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation Receives Donations to Advance Congenital Heart Research

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 29, 2016
Contact: Leslie Fleming, Director of Communications and Annual Giving
313-745-1933
Leslie.Fleming@chmfoundation.org

(Detroit, MI—February 29, 2016) Every year, 40,000 American children are born with a congenital heart defect (CHD)--the most common birth defect which affects approximately one among 120 babies. These children may require life-saving surgery and specialized care into adulthood. Government research funding to investigate causes and treatment for children’s heart defects is limited so private philanthropy is very important.

Two local foundations—The Heart of a Child and Hope for Hearts—have donated $56,000 this year to Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation to investigate and improve treatment of congenital heart defects. “We are very grateful for this support to expand what we know about congenital heart defects and to improve children’s care. These foundations, established by families who have experienced congenital heart defects, are providing a great service by helping future patients,” said Tony Werner, president and CEO of Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation.

The Heart of a Child (theheartofachild.net) was founded by Mike and Erin Dougherty of Novi whose son Jacob had cardiovascular surgery at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Jacob’s experience motivated the Dougherty family to raise funds through special events so that physicians can develop ways to improve cardiovascular surgery outcomes for children. On January 30, 2016, The Heart of a Child held a Dinner and Silent Auction to raise funds for Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation.. The Heart of a Child has donated more than $300,000 to CMHF over the years to support CHD research.

Aidan LaForest, a resident of Wyandotte, underwent three reconstructive heart surgeries at Children’s Hospital of Michigan before he was two. His parents, Jamie and Kristopher LaForest, and grandparents wanted to help others coping with congenital heart defects and established Hope for Hearts (hope-for-hearts.com) in 2006. The third annual Hope for Hearts-CHD Awareness Dinner on February 20, 2016, along with sales of calendars and cookbooks, generated $20,000 for Children’s Hospital of Michigan physicians to provide parents with essential home monitoring equipment for their fragile babies with congenital heart disease. Hope for Hearts has raised a total of $80,000 for the Foundation for this program.