Dear supporters and friends,

On behalf of The Children’s Heart Foundation, thank you for your help in making 2019 such an exciting year for our organization thus far. We are proud to remain the nation's leader in the field of congenital heart defect (CHD) research. It is my pleasure to provide this mid-year update to all of you.

We have had many successful events and fundraisers across the country, which are all helping to raise funds for our critical mission of funding the most promising CHD research. Our Congenital Heart Walk series has already raised more than $820,000 in support of our mission thanks to our passionate and dedicated walkers, volunteers, sponsors, and donors.

To support the great work that our organization is doing across the country and serving our research mission, we have added new staff members to our team and made enhancements to our internal structures and partnerships which will position The Children’s Heart Foundation for continued growth and success.

In June, we closed our 2019 independent call for research grants, where we received 55 applications from researchers requesting funding. These applications are currently being reviewed by our Medical Advisory Council (MAC) and those recommended for funding by the MAC will be announced in December. We also recently co-funded two new research projects with the American Heart Association through our joint Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards, which marks the sixth round of co-funded research through the program. Through this collaboration and our ongoing commitment to research focused on congenital heart defects, we strive to make a lasting impact on the lives of those with CHDs. 

Since 1996, The Children’s Heart Foundation has funded more than $11.1 million of CHD research in several areas including clinical cardiology, basic science, population science, and advancement of surgical and interventional techniques. This profound achievement has been possible thanks to the generous support and commitment from people like you. Because of the advancements that have been made through this research, death rates from CHDs in the U.S. have declined by 37.5% since 1999. Today, there are more than 2.4 million Americans living with congenital heart defects. Because of this, we have added important research focus on developmental, transitional, and long-term care needs for these children and adults who now are living longer lives. The Children’s Heart Foundation also funds fellowship grants that aim to help young researchers gain experience in the field of CHD research. This continued research will help bring innovative solutions to improve survival rates and care for all CHD patients. In the coming weeks, we will also be announcing a new partnership that will help move our research forward in a quicker, more efficient manner.

Our vision is a world in which everyone born with a CHD has the chance to live a long, healthy life, and that eventually, CHDs will be eradicated altogether. With your help, we are making great progress toward that goal. I look forward to updating you on additional research we fund in 2019 and the impact this research is making. Working together, we will fulfill our critical mission and continue to improve outcomes for children and families affected by CHDs.

With kindness, 

Barbara Newhouse
Chief Executive Officer