Heart to Heart International turns 15

OLATHE, Kansas/January 1, 2007—Heart to Heart International Inc., a leading global humanitarian organization, announced today that on January 31 the organization will celebrate its 15-year anniversary. Over the course of the coming year, Heart to Heart is planning to commemorate the occasion in small gatherings with stakeholders, culminating in its annual gala, “Celebration of the Heart,” in September.

“When we started this organization back in 1992, all we had was a courageous desire to help people in need and a vision to infect others with that desire,” said Dr. Gary Morsch, Heart to Heart’s founder and president. “We didn’t have some grand plan for where we’d be in 15 years. We just knew what we were doing—connecting people and resources to a world in need—was the right thing to do. That same desire drives us and motivates us today.”

Heart to Heart derived its name from its inaugural project in May 1992—a private airlift from Kansas City (the heart of America) to Moscow (the heart of Russia) to help people facing a collapsing Soviet-era health system in the days shortly after the end of the Cold War.

Spurred on by the combined efforts of hundreds of volunteers, the airlift gained local momentum and eventually drew national attention as major pharmaceutical companies donated critical aid to help fill a U.S. Air Force C-5A Galaxy cargo plane. The Heart to Heart Airlift, as it came to be known, became a reality when the C-5A aircraft landed in Moscow on May 22, 1992. The organization has been helping people in need ever since and encouraging others to get involved in making a difference locally and globally.

In concert with this year of celebration, Heart to Heart is also launching an annual campaign to provide the necessary resources to impact health in more than 60 countries, including the United States, during 2007. People interested in supporting the organization annually are encouraged to make an online donation at organization’s website, www.hearttoheart.org. For more information, contact its Advancement staff by calling 913-764-5200 or emailing info@hearttoheart.org.