A Giving Heart Foundation was started by Colleen and Mike Berk and their family after their newborn Brayden was diagnosed with Aortic Valve Stenosis, requiring balloon angioplasty at just one month old. Although the procedure went well and their son continues to grow strong, the Berks have fears for the future – and the invasive surgeries Brayden may have to endure. The Berks decided no other family should have to go through this ordeal alone, and our small, grassroots, all-volunteer foundation was born.
Who we are
Our Story
Our Beliefs
1 out of every 100 babies is born with Congenital Heart Disease or Structural Heart Disease. And too many of them die – more than from any other kind of birth defect. And the ones who do survive spend way too much of their lives in hospitals, facing daily battles just to do the kinds of fun, messy, rambunctious things most kids take for granted. But the system is letting them down.
As tiny as their little hearts may be, funding for research is even tinier, with 99% of all proceeds focused adults, who already benefit from safe, non-invasive options that aren’t yet available to children.
Not only are these kids being robbed of the advanced technology that can help them thrive, they’re being robbed of childhood itself.
We believe every child has a right to experience the growing, learning, playing, curious, messy joys of childhood. Your donation to A Giving Heart Foundation can help transform the lives of these kids and give them the childhood they deserve.
Board of Directors
Bob Berk
Chairman of the Board
Mike Berk
President
Nathan Westcomb
Vice President
Anneke Chamy
Treasurer
Chuck Andrews
Andy Baskel
Anne Berberich
Carole Berk
Kayla Carey
Karin Carlson
Wayne Foraker
April Katz
Scott Mayer
Ajay Patel
Candice Schaefer
Brian Steffans
Kathleen Szot
Mark Turner
Medical Research Advisors
Damien Kenny
MB, MD, MRCPCH
Ziyad M. Hijazi
MD, MPH, MSCAI, FACC
Bradley S. Marino
MD, MPP, MSCE
Each year 1 in 100 babies is born with Congenital Heart Disease
30% will require invasive surgery. Your donation today will help make it possible to end the need for open heart surgery in children.