For more than two decades Heartfelt's compassionate volunteers have consistently, diligently and tirelessly worked to find those who are falling through the cracks of society and provide them a safety net of support, comfort, and assistance. In serving those in genuine need, heartfelt supplies, food, clothes, medicine, blankets, visits, time, energy and loving encouragement on a regular and ongoing basis.


Programs:
National and International Service Projects
Global Holiday Service Projects
Celebrating Service Workshops
Adopt-A-Family Program
Children's Service Program
Corporate Service Program

National and International Service Projects
The Heartfelt Foundation's work and service has extended to those in need around the world. Hospitals, orphanages, schools, families and children have been visited, touched and assisted by Heartfelt in hundreds of global communities. Some of the areas served nationally are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington; and internationally: Australia, Brazil, Buenos Aires, Colombia, East Africa, Egypt, England, France, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Venezuela, and West Africa.

Global Holiday Service Projects
In November and December of each year the Heartfelt Foundation mobilizes thousands of volunteers around the world to plan and serve on projects that take holiday cheer and upliftment to children in hospitals and orphanages, families in-need and at-risk, the frail elderly in nursing homes, those that are home-bound and those without homes, and the terminally ill. During that time, people on six continents join together in loving service to their fellow-man. Extensive donation drives are organized for toys, food, clothing, gifts, blankets, socks and other goods; while wrapping parties are held to prepare for the heartfelt distribution and celebratory events occurring in each global area.

Celebrating Service Workshops
The Heartfelt Foundation sponsors programs in various communities to encourage or celebrate the spirit of service. Some programs bring together nonprofit service agencies with the general public to provide opportunities to learn about current community needs, the agencies that strive to meet those needs, and ways to volunteer or participate with these agencies. Other programs are designed to support individuals and agencies in the field of volunteer service to celebrate and renew the spirit of service within; and to remain inspired and connected to their original vision of service.

In some of the programs, there are opportunities to engage in short community service projects in order to have a first-hand introduction to and experience of the work of a nonprofit agency. Educating those wishing to volunteer in relating with those in need, serving from the heart, or setting up service projects in other areas are additional aspects of Heartfelt's community service.

Adopt-A-Family Program
A recent survey of 29 cities across the U.S. found that families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. Coupled with severe cuts in public assistance where the monthly income level for a family of 3 has dropped from $775 in 1991 to $565 in 1999; 45% of homeless women surveyed in L.A. reported that they were homeless because they lost a job. There are more women and children on the streets of our country than ever before! Sometimes, only a slight bit of assistance could have made the difference in keeping them from slipping through the cracks of society.

This unique program matches families that are at-risk and in crisis with individuals, families, groups or corporations able to provide any form of supplemental support and assistance to them. Heartfelt does extensive research on a family in crisis and its specific needs, and finds a complementary support system to adopt the family for a temporary and agreed-upon period of time--ranging from 3 months to a year. The kind of support given could range from buying groceries every other month, or buying clothes or shoes for the children as needed, to assisting with child care expenses so the parent can attend job training, or assisting financially with doctor's visits for the children. The purpose of the program, along with aiding those most fragile and at-risk, is to provide innovative bridges for the average citizen to play a meaningful role in addressing and effecting positive social change through their personal contribution in the care of citizens in need. It additionally broadens the opportunities for a greater number of people to be included and involved in the solution to a distressing societal problem.

Children's Service Program
The Heartfelt Foundation is committed to educating children and youth about service, and creating opportunities for them to have positive and uplifting experiences of service to others less fortunate. Our goal is teaching children experientially that their presence is valuable and can make an uplifting difference in the lives of those in need, in often very simple ways. We believe if children are raised with the idea and experience of heartfelt service as a regular and rewarding activity, they will continue to serve their communities as adults. Ongoing service education and service projects are offered by Heartfelt for children of all ages.

Corporate Service Program
The Foundation consults with businesses and corporations to design individualized service programs and projects for their employees. These projects create and allow for enhanced communication and teamwork among the groups, departments, divisions or teams in an organization by providing opportunities to work in enthusiastic cooperation toward a shared objective -- assisting people in need.

The corporation's positive contribution to the community in which it does business is an additional overall benefit of these corporate service projects; and provides a valuable demonstration of the win/win philosophy in action.

Organizations served by the Foundation include:
Amigos de Los Ninos, New Mexico
Aviva Center for Girls, California
Carl Bean Hospice, California
Catholic Charities, California
Cedars-Sinai Hospital, California
Children Helping Poor and Homeless People, California
Children in Need of Services, New Mexico
Children's Baptist Home, California
Creche Nosso Lar, Brazil
Crippled Children's Society, California
Educare Foundation, California
Family Resource Crisis Shelter, Florida
Fatima, Mexico
Five Acres Home for Boys and Girls, California
Genesis/Exodus Programs, California
Grace Miracle Works, Texas
Heifer Project International, Pennsylvania
Houston Food Bank, Texas
K.I.D.S., New York
Martin Luther King, Jr. Hospital, California
Maryvale Home for Girls, California
Missionaries of Charity, California
Nazareth House, California
Night Ministry, Illinois
Northern Westchester Women's Shelter, New York
Nosso Lar, Brazil
Notting Hill Housing Trust, United Kingdom
Ocean Park Community Center, California
Pacific Garden Mission, Illinois
Para Los Ninos, California
Philabundance, Pennsylvania
Salvation Army, USA and Australia
Santa Cosa de Misericordia Hospital, Brazil
Serra Project, California
Shields for Families, California
SRO Housing, California
St. Anne's Home, California
St. Anne's Infant and Maternity Home, District of Columbia
St. Joseph's Center, California
Tuesday's Child, California
UCLA/Santa Monica Hospital, California
Ujima Village, California
Union Rescue Mission, California
Van Nuys Mental Health Center, California
Veterans Hospital of Baltimore, Maryland
Veterans Hospital of Los Angeles, California
Women Against Abuse, Pennsylvania
Youth Orientation Foundation, West Africa