Meet our Heart Heroes! Visit our Heart Hero Hall of Fame Page!
Meet our Heart Heroes! Visit our Heart Hero Hall of Fame Page!
For some of us, the holidays are a joyful time of year with shopping lists full of ideas on how to make our loved ones feel special. Warm decorations adorn our homes and main streets. We gather with family and friends to share time, cookies, and laughs. But for the babies, children, and teens who are hospitalized or recovering from cardiac surgery due to congenital heart disease, the holiday season can look much different.
Families and parents often feel isolated, as they struggle with the emotional toll of a hospital stay while the stress of having to take time off from work without pay can be overwhelming. Their priority is paying for household bills, travel expenses, cafeteria meals, and medical bills. The reality of not having enough money to buy holiday gifts is heartbreaking.
The Victoria Ciara Foundation believes that our families deserve a special holiday just as much as everyone else, and possibly, even more. This is why we will be mailing gift cards and special treats to our families next month. This effort is in addition to our Pillowcase and Blanket Delivery Day that will take place on Friday, December 13th when more than 300 pillowcases and blankets will be given to children who are hospitalized in the cardiac units at Nemours and CHOP. Many of the blankets were homemade this year- which is extra special for our kiddos.
As we prepare to provide these services, we’re asking for your help through a donation of any size. Every dollar will go towards the purchase of a gift card/gift. Not one single penny goes to administrative costs as we are run by 100% volunteer efforts.
Thank you for your consideration and we wish everyone a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season.
We will also have VCF Holiday Ornaments available for purchase as of Dec 1. Check back here to purchase one and support this campaign!
Share your support of VCF this holiday season by hanging one of our ornaments on your tree! Proceeds will directly support our families and individuals who are struggling due to a current or recent hospitalization.
$25.00 per ornament- includes shipping fee.
Thank you to our collection partners!
Malaga Methodist Church
Dodges Market
Triad Associates
Chosen by Stephanie Foster
South Jersey Eye Associates
Thank you to everyone who donated. VCF will deliver them to Nemours and CHOP on Friday, December 13th, 2024.
A special thank you to Triad Associates for your financial donation to this campaign!
Join a group of other parents and caregivers of children with CHD.
Share success, ask questions, and learn from each other!
Email us to with topic ideas and to sign up for more info today! Director@victoriaciarafound.org
Share topics and sign up to participate- email us at
TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF THOSE IMPACTED BY
CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE
WE PROVIDE:
-Financial Assistance for families and individuals impacted by CHD.
-Wellness Assistance in the form of:
connections to resources, mentoring opportunities, gift cards for "date nights", and vouchers for massages/yoga classes.
-Scholarships for high school student
TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF THOSE IMPACTED BY
CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE
WE PROVIDE:
-Financial Assistance for families and individuals impacted by CHD.
-Wellness Assistance in the form of:
connections to resources, mentoring opportunities, gift cards for "date nights", and vouchers for massages/yoga classes.
-Scholarships for high school students with a CHD diagnosis.
-Campaigns that provide items to help those who are hospitalized in a CHD cardiac unit. Parents/caregivers are included as well!
-Educational and socialization zoom sessions.
WHAT IS CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE (CHD)?
Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect in the United States. It is the presence of a cardiac defect that develops prior to birth. Many babies require multiple surgeries within their first few years of life. Most individuals require lifelong specialized cardiac care.
Victoria was born in 1997 with several heart defects that required four open heart surgeries with the last one occurring in July of 2021.
The emotional and financial toll of this journey was, at times, overwhelming.
The lessons learned along the way inspired Victoria and her parents to launch a foundation to help other CHD families and a
Victoria was born in 1997 with several heart defects that required four open heart surgeries with the last one occurring in July of 2021.
The emotional and financial toll of this journey was, at times, overwhelming.
The lessons learned along the way inspired Victoria and her parents to launch a foundation to help other CHD families and adults connect with each other, find therapeutic resources, and pay for the financial needs that accompany hospital stays and on-going medical testing.
The Victoria Ciara Foundation also works to increase awareness of congenital heart disease; specifically around its prevalence, the impact it has on patients and their families, and how it differs from acquired heart disease and other childhood medical conditions.
TRANSPARENCY AND GOOD STEWARDSHIP ARE IMPORTANT TO US
-Our organization is currently run by all volunteers.
-Our 990 can be found at Tax Exempt Organization Search Details | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)
-Our Tax ID # is 87-3434529.
We are honored to share the stories of some of the heart heroes in our VCF community. For those who wish to share their stories, we thank you for helping increase awareness of how strong every heart warrior is and the challenges they face every day. VCF also respects our heart heroes who wish to stay anonymous as they focus on their wellness and healing.
VCF delivered 30 Squishmallows to Nemours Hospital for Children on Tuesday, February 13th. These amazing staff members will give them to the children who are hospitalized in their cardiac care units.
A little over 80 Squishmallows were provided to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on Tuesday, February 20th. VCF appreciates the social work team's excitement as they planned to share them with the kids in their cardiac care units. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
Stephen Hegeman, Sr.-Board President
Jim Sproul- Treasurer
Martha Nealer- Secretary
Tracy Cianci- Trustee
Victoria Hegeman- Trustee
Martha Nealer- Trustee
Erik Cianci- Trustee
Maryann Toomey- Trustee
Jenn Parisi- Trustee
Maggie Vaughan- Trustee
Tammy Wetzel- Trustee
Sheree Woodington- Trustee
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |
Copyright © 2024 Victoria Ciara Foundation - All Rights Reserved.
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