About Us
Heart of a Giant Foundation
HGF
About Heart of a Giant Foundation
At Heart of a Giant Foundation, we are committed to reducing the impact of heart disease worldwide. We strive to become the leading partner in detecting, diagnosing, and managing cardiac risk factors. Our multi-level intervention programs empower individuals to take control of their health. Join us now to impact communities affected by heart disease significantly.
Our Vision and Mission
Our vision is clear: to ensure that every individual in the community has access to effective heart health education, superior healthcare assistance, and community resources, enhancing their overall health, quality of life, and the management of their heart conditions and related risk factors. We strive to achieve this vision by:
Our mission is to proactively identify heart-related risk factors in at-risk population groups, provide them with the support and knowledge they need to become self-reliant, and advocate for managing and living with their health conditions.
Raising awareness about risk factors and symptoms of cardiac conditions;
Promoting regular health check-ups, screening, and early diagnosis;
Providing culturally intelligent and responsive services;
Improving patient-provider relationships;
Enabling access to improved care and better health outcomes;
Empowering patients and caregivers, and
Promoting advocacy and self-advocacy.
Some Tough Truths About Heart Disease
Heart disease remains the No. 1 cause of death both in the US and the World, with staggering statistics highlighting the urgency of our mission:
18 million+ lives are lost to heart disease globally each year.
655,000+ deaths occur in the US annually due to heart disease.
495,000+ individuals suffer from high blood pressure-related casualties every year.
Despite these alarming figures, only about 49% of Americans are aware of their heart health status, underscoring the critical need for increased education and awareness.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common heart condition that has been identified by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a leading risk factor for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and vascular dementia.
According to a recent study conducted by the Boston Public Health Commission, one out of every four adult residents in Boston reported having hypertension. The study also found that the percentage of hypertension was higher for Black (36%) and Latino (27%) adults compared to White adults (20%). Neighborhoods with predominantly Black people, such as Mattapan, Dorchester, or Roxbury, had hypertension rates ranging from 34% to 42%.
More About Us
Eager to learn more about our efforts and impact? Visit our News and Insights Page. It's a space where we share blogs, insights, stories, and project updates. Our blog isn't just about posting articles; it's a platform for engagement. We love interacting with our readers in the comments section, fostering a community of like-minded individuals passionate about advancing the world of heart health.
Join us at Heart of a Giant Foundation as we work with our communities, supporters and partners to turn the tide against heart disease, one heart at a time.
News and Insights
Disclaimer:
The information shared on this page is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for any medical issues.
PRELIMINARY IMPACT REPORT
To all our readers, supporters and friends
We are pleased to update you on the positive impact your support has helped us make through our Screening & Education Program. We are proud and grateful to report that over the past 11 months, the program has made significant strides in promoting community health and empowerment.
Here’s a snapshot of our accomplishments, challenges, and future plans.
Our Journey Highlights:
* Over the past 11 months, we’ve hosted 32 Blood Pressure Screening and Education events, including 2 webinars and 5 workshops.
* Your support has allowed us to connect with 376 individuals, conducting a total of 269 screenings.
* With their consent, we’ve tracked the measurements of 21 participants over multiple months. The positive outcomes are truly heartening, with 14 of the 21 individuals experiencing improvements in their blood pressure levels.
* We’ve expanded our outreach to cover 6 Boston neighborhoods: Brockton, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, and Roxbury.
The Impact We’ve Made:
* Through Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), we’ve seen promising progress in the health indicators of 12 enrolled individuals, fostering ongoing communication with our Community Care Team.
* Our focus on Patient-Provider Communication Support has empowered individuals during health visits, addressing social issues and providing valuable tools for effective communication with medical teams.
* Community Empowerment sessions have equipped our communities with knowledge, resulting in increased confidence and preparedness, as evidenced by the positive trends in blood pressure data.
Learning and Growing:
Like any journey, we’ve faced challenges, particularly around capacity. Recognizing the need, we’re actively exploring the invaluable support of volunteers to enhance our planning, management, and outreach efforts in the coming year. Our future plans include investing in community outreach to boost event attendance. Collaborations with local churches, community organizations, and businesses will be key in making our events even more accessible.
Celebrating Positive Moments:
* The frequency of our events has increased, now happening weekly or bi-weekly in accessible areas.
* Synergies with partner locations have strengthened, enhancing collaboration and complementing existing social services.
* The positive interactions with communities have been encouraging, ranging from provider referrals to early detection of health emergencies.
Your support has been the driving force behind these achievements, and for that, we extend our deepest gratitude. We’re excited about the positive momentum and are dedicated to expanding our impact in the coming year.
Thank you for being an integral part of this journey. Together, we’re set to achieve even greater milestones in community heart health.
Testimonials
Our Supporters
Our Partners
Community Organizations
The Heart of a Giant Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 84-2900386. Donations are tax-deductible.
