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“Circle
of Hearts” is an online fundraising and awareness campaign designed
to educate friends and family about the financial impact of Congenital Heart Defects, and
to raise money to
support Spencer's Fund, the financial
assistance program provided by The Congenital Heart Information
Network. After you register as a participant, you can create your own personal
web page. You then email your friends/family/co-workers to ask them to visit
your page and make a tax-deductible donation to The Congenital Heart Information
Network. The process of creating your page is simple and fun, and you can
customize your page with your own photos and text.
The site includes a CHD Awareness Knowledge Game, links to our CHD Fact
Sheet, Spencer's Fund, Testimonials, and a link to The Congenital Heart Information Network.
The "Circle
of Hearts" campaign gives you the power to raise awareness about
CHD, and reach out to families in crisis. With high unemployment rates, a
difficult economy, and the slow down in voluntary donations, the need has never
been greater!
If you have any questions or encounter any problems, please
let us know by email or by using the
Contact Form.
Sample Letters
As most of you know, my son, Seth, has complex Congenital Heart Defects.
For several years, we travelled to a Center of Excellence for his
medical care. Our family took several trips out of state for check-ups,
caths, and surgery, so I know how expensive it can be! Even though it
was a stretch at times, we were fortunate that we could afford the
expense of plane fare, lodging, car rental, meals, etc.
However, this is not the reality for may families and adults with CHD.
In these difficult economic times, an extended or far from home hospital
stay can wreak havoc on already strained budgets, adding to the
incredible stress and anxiety people feel while coping with a seriously
ill loved one.
Spencer's Fund can help! Created
in loving memory of Spencer Kult, the financial assistance program
provided by The Congenital Heart Information Network has helped families
in crisis by paying for travel expenses, lodging, meals utility bills,
and sadly, even funerals and burial expenses.
Please help me to raise funds for this very worthy cause by joining our
"Circle of Hearts" and making a donation on
Seth's page.
One of the greatest blessings in
my life has been the ability to provide emotional support and financial
help to families and adults with CHD, and with your support, Spencer's
Fund will be able to help many more families in need.
Thank-you!
Mona Barmash
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Dear Family and Friends:
A little more than 9 years ago, we
broke into a circle that we didn’t know existed. And
you—whether you knew it or not—came along with us. That circle
is by those affected daily by Congenital Heart Defects and Diseases
(CHDs). Shay, born with a life-threatening group of heart
defects called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, came into this world
a fighter, pushing herself since the beginning. We’ve watched
her struggle more than any parent should have to witness, and endure
more than any child should have to bear. Through it all, Shay
remains a bright, happy, sassy little girl.
Some of
you have been with us on this journey since the beginning.
Others are new friends who have seen Shay at her best. Life is
good for us now. Shay’s life is no different from her
siblings’. But, nine years ago, we needed to join with other
CHD families for information, guidance and support. One group
has provided all of this for us—the Congenital Heart Information
Network.
Even though nearly 40,000 babies are
born yearly in the
U.S. with a CHD, when you learn one
of those babies is yours you feel alone. C.H.I.N. enabled us
to get through many difficult times with hope.
But
C.H.I.N. also provides financial support for food, travel, lodging
and other expenses faced by the many families who must go far from
home to get the best care for their child. Spencer's Fund, the
financial assistance program for CHD families in crisis has
benefitted hundreds of families over the past several years.
We are asking you to help Spencer's
Fund because it is a program of C.H.I.N. that we believe in;
we have seen first hand how it helps families. C.H.I.N. is ready to
help, but it first needs our help financially to be able to make a
significant impact. Please consider making a donation on
Shay’s page. Or, please
take a moment to learn more about CHDs and C.H.I.N. by visiting its
web site at
www.tchin.org.
Our four
children have given us a profound understanding of how precious life
is, how blessed we have been by those in our lives, and how God
truly walks with us if we reach for His hand. Thank you for
being part of our circle.
Anne
Gammon
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