Heart to Heart honors Johnson & Johnson, ‘Dr. Doom’ at annual gala

Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Walter Maestri receive awards

OLATHE, Kan./September 13, 2006 — Heart to Heart International Inc., a leading humanitarian organization, will honor two special guests at its “Celebration of the Heart” gala event tonight at 7 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center.

The “Heart for Humanity Award,” which signifies the passion behind an individual’s giving to Heart to Heart, was presented to Conrad Person, the managing director of Johnson & Johnson’s corporate giving program. Mr. Person was one of the first individuals at a major pharmaceutical company to believe in the work of Heart to Heart International and added the organization to its list of charities to receive donated medicines as part of the company’s produce-to-give program.

“Johnson & Johnson is a company that ‘gets it’ and understands the challenges of global philanthropy and even takes extra steps in their manufacturing processes to ensure that people live healthier lives—even of those people can’t afford it,” said Jon North, Heart to Heart’s CEO. “Its culture breeds and often attracts compassionate people like Conrad Person, who embodies the Johnson & Johnson Credo and has led efforts within his company to help organizations like ours help people in need all around the world.”

Dr. Walter Maestri, once maligned in the New Orleans media as “Dr. Doom” for his predictions that the city was ill-prepared for a major hurricane, became a local hero when he led efforts to save lives in his community as director of the Emergency Operations Center of Jefferson Parish. For his courage and character, Heart to Heart will honor him with the Gary B. Morsch Power of One Award.

“Dr. Maestri braved nature’s fury and saved his community in the process,” North added, during the award presentation, “He was the voice reason, while others raged; the problem solver, when others pointed fingers of blame; the hope seeker, while others despaired; the lifeboat, while others were drowning in a sea of need. His community is on the road to recovery today largely due to his leadership.”

Dr. Maestri will also deliver the keynote at tonight’s event.