The event will be held at Endicott Park in Danvers, MA on Sunday, July 3, 2011 from 9:00am to 2:00pm in an effort to raise community awareness for the #1 birth defect in the United States. The walk will feature your choice of 1 or 2-mile length. Proceeds raised will go to support It’s My Heart Boston’s mission to support and advocate for families affected by CHD in the greater Boston area. Additionally, IMH Boston supports hospital programs in the two hospitals that perform open-heart surgery in this area. Come out for a fun day for the entire family! Walk at your own pace and then join us for a family picnic and fun activities for kids and adults alike.

The walk site can be found at http://www.itsmyheart.org/chd-walks/ where you can find more event details. Everyone is invited to participate regardless of age and team building is not only welcomed, but encouraged!

Founded in 2008 and locally in Danvers since January 2010, the Boston chapter has reached out to families through our advocacy programs and events. On a national level, chapters have provided support services for more than 10,000 families since its inception in 2005. The Boston chapter is grateful to have the support of the Kiwanis Club of Danvers and for being a first-time participant in this year’s Danvers Family Festival. IMH Boston is also a member of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce. The continuous support and big-hearted generosity of residents and businesses alike from Danvers and in other North Shore communities make the IMH mission possible.

For more information about IMH please visit www.itsmyheart.org, or call Corrie Stassen-Melsom, Founder and Executive Director, at corrie.stassen@itsmyheart.org and on 888.HEART.07.

Contact:          Isabelle Ouimette, It’s My Heart Boston Chapter President

Phone:                  (351) 201-1533

E-mail:                 boston@itsmyheart.org

Web site:         http://www.itsmyheart.org/boston

CHD Facts:        http://www.itsmyheart.org/chd-information/chd-facts/

In order to provide the best support to our families and the mission of Its My Heart, IMH has taken on new partnerships both legally and commercially.  We are pleased to the new legal partnerships as through analysis and consultation IMH will be restructuring nationally to a more compliant and support driven model.  The restructure allows for Its My Heart to grow its organization across states in unison giving more flexibility to the volunteers that want to help while maintaining better auditing procedures and financial control so our donors are secure in knowing their money is going directly to the cause.

Additionally this restructure has been strategically timed with the re-branding of Its My Heart’s core fundraising initiative, walks.  If you haven’t been to a “Keep the Beat” event, get ready because we are excited to bring our fundraising initiatives to all Its My Heart current and future communities.  In developing a brand, It’s My Heart partnered with the Corridor Brand Group based in Houston to help conceptually create the perfect fundraising event.  An event that raises money to support the cause while giving back to the community at the same time.  “Keep the Beat” is a family walk initiative designed as our core fundraising effort with a family atmosphere and family appropriate activities.  And how can you have an event without the perfect sound or “beat”, so all events will be sure to have great music to keep us moving in hope and positivity.  We are an organization of families and thus it’s our mission to ensure that we stay focused on who we are and operate as an organization dedicated to its community of families at all times.  This was a very important concept that It’s My Heart was passionate about keeping and will always stay focused on maintaining.

So what will this new structure and brand look like?  Nothing will change to the support and missions driven by It’s My Heart… and don’t worry, we would never get rid of our wonderful Artey.  We will be making simple state registration changes to support our new legal structure.  We will continue our fundraising efforts and across the next 12 months all of our chapters will have an opportunity to launch the very own “Keep the Beat” event.

It has been hard work developing new strategies that will benefit this organization and the communities that own it, thus we appreciate everyone’s support and involvement.  As mentioned, our people are our greatest assets and we look forward to giving greater support and building a better organization in 2011.

Thank You,

Its My Heart, Inc.

National Board Members

Coconut Creek, FL February 14, 2011- Come out and lace up your shoes, together we can heal a heart. The South Florida Chapter of “It’s My Heart”, Inc. the preeminent nonprofit provider of strength and support for those affected by congenital heart defects, today announced that on Saturday, February 26, 2011 from 7:30am to 12:00pm in an effort to raise community awareness for the number one birth defect in the United States, it will be kicking off the First Annual Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Fun Walk/Run at Tradewinds Park, in Coconut Creek, FL. A portion of the proceeds raised will be donated to Congenital Heart Defects research. Please come out and support “It’s My Heart” in the race against a disease that has a mortality rate twice that of all forms of childhood cancers combined, according to the Children’s Heart Foundation.

The walk site is http://imhwalkforchd.kintera.org/southflorida where you can find more event details.

“Locally since we started our chapter in 2010 we have reached out to more than 300 families through our advocacy programs and events. On a National level our 11 chapters have provided support services for more than 10,000 families since inception in 2006, and although we are a young chapter we have been blessed with a tremendous showing of support from the South Florida community,” said Urquisa Fernandez, President of the It’s My Heart South Florida Chapter.

Big businesses have also stepped up to sponsor the First Annual “It’s My Heart” Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Fun Walk/Run. Including the Holtz Children’s Hospital in affiliation with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, which has underwritten the “It’s My Heart” Kids Zone as well as the Joe DiMaggio Hospital. Other generous backers include PepsiCo, Inc., Chick-Fil-A, PNC Bank, Whole Foods of Coral Springs, Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, JRC Transportation, Pubset Printing and Design, Playtown Café, Cadeci International, Lola’s Facepainting, Diane Schafer Photography, 911 CrossFit, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Boca Raton Public Relations Agency, Total Acclaim Inc.

“It’s My Heart” also expresses their sincere gratitude in recognition of the following event contributors: The City of Coconut Creek, Coconut Creek Fire Chief Steve Pollio, Margate Fire Chief Dan Booker and the Margate/Coconut Creek Fire Department, Publix Super Markets, Inc., Glass Productions, Lion Country Safari, Butterfly World, La Bamba Restaurant, Okeechobee Steakhouse, Starbucks at the Coconut Creek Promenade Shops, and the Coral Springs Professional Firefighters Benevolent.

“It is because of this kind of big-hearted generosity, that I look forward to the future of this event and our organization. In February 2010 our national walk in Houston, TX had more than 3,000 attendees, which raised more than $120,000. I have faith that together with the people here in South Florida, that we can also attain this level of success,” added Fernandez.

“This event is shaping up to be a wonderful gathering of all those affected by Congenital Heart Disease, as well as those who treat them. Several cardiology practices and hospital cardiac units will be registering teams and walking hand in hand with the many hearts they’ve helped heal. It will truly prove to be a day of unity among the entire CHD community and South Florida,” stated Fernandez in closing.

For more information about the It’s My Heart Tax-Exempt 501(c) 3 Organization please visit www.itsmyheart.org, call 561-236-6636 to reach Urquisa Fernandez, or contact Geoffrey Klein of Total Acclaim Inc. at GKlein@TotalAcclaim.com or at (561) 544-2507 main & (561) 289-6763 cell.

Event Link http://imhwalkforchd.kintera.org/southflorida
It’s My Heart South Florida Chapter Link http://www.itsmyheart.org/imh-chapters/florida/south-florida/
Come visit us on facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=254446381199&v=wall

1. Park and walk site will open to all walkers at 8:30 a.m.

2. If you have registered online, you DO NOT need to check in.

3. If you purchased a t-shirt, you are welcome to pick it up along with a walk packet at Academy Sports and Outdoors at one of these locations near you:

Participant Packet Pickup
Friday, February 18, 2011 from Noon – 6:00 PM

Spring: 25010 I-45 North (at Rayford Rd.) Spring, TX 77386
Katy: 23155 Katy Freeway (at Grand Parkway) Katy, TX 77450
Galleria: 2404 Southwest Freeway (Greenbriar/Shepard & Kirby) Houston, TX 77098
Pearland: 2804 Business Center Dr. (288 & 518) Pearland, TX 77584

We welcome you to pick up t-shirts for friends and family but once they leave our hands, it’s the responsibility of the person picking them up to ensure delivery.

4. If you cannot pick up the t-shirt at Packet Pickup, then please go to the table on site at the walk titled “T-Shirt Pick up”.

5. CHILDREN who attend the walk will be given a FREE walk t-shirt but it’s first come, first served – sizes are limited so be on time to ensure availability.

6. The walk is 5K – strollers and wagons are welcome!

7. Please DO NOT bring any heating devices. The location of the park is not located near a firehouse and individuals could be fined by the City of Houston.

8. Food is welcomed but not to be sold.

9. Tents are fine as long as they are weighed down and holes are NOT made in the ground. Please make sure they do not obstruct view or sit in a path where there will be high volumes of traffic. If you’re unsure about where to set up your tent, please go to the “VOLUNTEER” booth where we can assist you.

10. All VOLUNTEERS will be wearing red t-shirts and blue jeans. If you have a question or need assistance, please find one of us and we’ll be happy to help!

11. Do NOT bring any animals or pets. Seeing-eye dogs are welcome for medical reasons only. This is NOT an IMH rule but the City of Houston rule for the park.

12. We have arranged for parking at the Heritage Parking Garage located at 1111 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77002. In addition there are parking meters located on Walker and McKinney (adjacent to City Hall) and on Dallas and Lamar (near the library). You can purchase the downtown hopper for only $6 but make sure you park legally or you could be fined by the City of Houston.

13. Donations will be accepted at the park at the booth that displays “Donations”. This also includes Comfort Bag items or any other items. Please do NOT drop off donations at our packet pickup located at Academy Sports & Outdoors.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we will see you soon! Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions. Be safe and bring your cameras!

Thank you to all our wonderful SPONSORS who have made this walk possible!!! We encourage you to take the time and visit our sponsors to find out who supports the CHD Community! Many of our sponsors will have booths set up with activities specific for children and handing out some awesome freebies!

All must register, whether with a t-shirt or without, baby or adult, we need a headcount! In order to ensure facility, food, beverage and entertainment meets needs of crowd, we need to know who is attending! Those who register will NOT have to check in on the morning of the walk. If you register now, you just need to show up!!! Expect great music, food, beverage, fun and lots of entertainment! There will be dance performances, coffee from Starbucks, variety of samples from General Mills, drum line leading the walk, National Anthem, and much more! Come show your support for this free and outstanding event! Bring your family, friends, strangers, coworkers, neighbors, out-laws, in-laws, and enemies!

If you’re in need of flyers to advertise, contact walk@itsmyheart.org and we’ll supply copies or a PDF of the flyer.

Remember Education + Advocacy = Support & Awareness