HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION INC

HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION INC., DBA FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE AND DBA PACEMAKER CLUB HAS EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE ITS INCEPTION TO MEET THE GROWING AND CHANGING NEEDS OF IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVASCULAR DEVICE PATIENTS AROUND THE GLOBE. THE PURPOSE OF HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL IS TO PROVIDE ALL PROFESSIONAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPLANT AT NO CHARGE TO THE PATIENT. HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL ALSO CREATES AWARENESS AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC, BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD, ABOUT THE MEDICAL NEEDS AND CHALLENGES OF UNDERSERVED PATIENTS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION OF PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS) THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1984 AS THE HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL PROJECT, AN INITIATIVE OF THE WATSON CLINIC FOUNDATION IN LAKELAND, FLORIDA. INITIALLY FORMED AS A PRIVATE FOUNDATION, THE PROJECT WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO THE URGENT GLOBAL NEED FOR ACCESS TO CARDIAC CARE AND LIFE-SAVING PACEMAKER THERAPY AMONG PATIENTS IN LOW-RESOURCE SETTINGS.IN 1992, THE PROJECT TRANSITIONED TO A 501(C)(3) PUBLIC CHARITY AND RELOCATED ITS HEADQUARTERS TO ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL IN TAMPA, FLORIDA. THIS SHIFT REFLECTED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXPANDING GLOBAL FOOTPRINT AND DEEPER PARTNERSHIPS WITH HOSPITALS, PHYSICIANS, AND MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURERS. AS A PUBLIC CHARITY, HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL SOURCES AND DISTRIBUTES IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVASCULAR DEVICES AND OPERATES A GROWING NETWORK OF HEART CENTERS. THESE LOCALLY OPERATED CARDIAC PROGRAMS IMPLANT THE SECURED DEVICES AND PROVIDE THE ASSOCIATED FOLLOW-UP CARE AT NO COST TO PREQUALIFIED PATIENTS.IN 2022, THE ORGANIZATION REBRANDED AND CREATED A DBA AS FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE, A NAME THAT BETTER REFLECTS ITS GLOBAL MISSION OF PROVIDING LIFE-SAVING CARDIOVASCULAR IMPLANTABLE DEVICES, EDUCATION, AND OTHER RESOURCES TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AROUND THE GLOBE. PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN 2020, THESE LIFE-SAVING DEVICES WERE DONATED TO HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL BY PARTICIPATING PACEMAKER MANUFACTURERS. IN 2023 HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO BEGIN PURCHASING DEVICES TO CONTINUE ITS MISSION. FUNDRAISING FOCUSED ON SECURING FUNDS TO PURCHASE AND PROVIDE DEVICES TO THE HEART CENTERS ENSURING RETURNING PATIENTS (THOSE NEEDING DEVICE REPLACEMENTS) COULD BE SERVICED. IN 2023, FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE (DBA) ACQUIRED THE PACEMAKER CLUB, A FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY OF PACEMAKER RECIPIENTS AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORKS, WHERE MEMBERS CAN COMMUNICATE, ASK QUESTIONS, SHARE EXPERIENCES, AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER. WITH THIS ACQUISITION, FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE EXPANDED ACCESS TO ONLINE RESOURCES TO BOTH THEIR HEART CENTER PATIENTS, AS WELL AS THE PACEMAKER CLUB MEMBERS TO INCLUDE ONGOING EDUCATION, PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS, A NETWORK OF SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR GOAL IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND HEALTHCARE FOR OUR PATIENTS AND MEMBERS.IN 2024, HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL IMPLANTED 138 DEVICES DESPITE A LACK OF MANUFACTURER DONATIONS. SINCE 1984, HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL HAS SAVED MORE THAN 18,000 LIVES IN OVER 20 COUNTRIESTHE FOUNDATION FEELS THE TRUE MEASURE OF OUR MISSION IS THE NUMBER OF LIVES IT SAVES OR DEVICES IT IMPLANTS, RATHER THAN THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THE DEVICES AND LEADS SENT TO THE HEART CENTERS.PATIENT HIGHLIGHTS:CARLOS - MEXICOCARLOS WAS BORN IN GUANAJUATO, MEXICO, WITH A FIGHTING SPIRIT. DIAGNOSED AT AGE TWO WITH TETRALOGY OF FALLOT, A COMPLEX CONGENITAL HEART CONDITION, HE UNDERWENT HIS FIRST OPEN-HEART SURGERY AT AGE THREE AND QUICKLY NEEDED PACING SUPPORT. HIS MOTHER, ALICIA, TIRELESSLY SEARCHED FOR HELP-AND FOUND FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE. AT JUST FIVE YEARS OLD, CARLOS RECEIVED HIS FIRST PACEMAKER IN 2004 AT OUR HEART CENTER IN AGUASCALIENTES, MEXICO.NOW 26, CARLOS RECEIVED HIS FIFTH PACEMAKER IN MARCH 2025, IMPLANTED BY LONGTIME VOLUNTEER PHYSICIANS DR. MENESES AND DR. LIZALDE. HIS JOURNEY IS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE LIFELONG IMPACT OF SUSTAINED CARDIAC CARE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCESS FOR CHILDREN BORN WITH COMPLEX CONDITIONS.PATIENT HIGHLIGHTS:MATEO- HONDURAS WHEN MATEO FIGUEROA WAS JUST 20 DAYS OLD, HIS PARENTS LEARNED HE HAD A CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT. AT 14 MONTHS, HE UNDERWENT EMERGENCY OPEN-HEART SURGERY. "ONE OF THE RISKS," HIS FATHER GERSON RECALLED, "WAS THAT THE BABY WOULD COME OUT OF THE OPERATION NEEDING A PACEMAKER." THAT RISK BECAME REALITY WHEN MATEO EMERGED WITH COMPLETE AV BLOCK. UNABLE TO AFFORD THE DEVICE, THE FAMILY TURNED TO MARIA ESCUELA HOSPITAL, WHERE THEY WERE CONNECTED WITH LOCAL THE ROTARY CLUB, AND FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE. "THANK GOD, OUR SON WAS ABLE TO BENEFIT," GERSON SAID. MATEO RECEIVED NOT JUST ONE, BUT TWO LIFE-SAVING PACEMAKERS OVER TIME.TODAY, MATEO IS COMPLETELY PACEMAKER-DEPENDENT-BUT THRIVING. "IF WE AS PARENTS DON'T MENTION IT, PEOPLE OFTEN DON'T REALIZE HE WAS BORN WITH A HEART DEFECT," GERSON SHARED. "THANK YOU FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE FOR DONATING MY PACEMAKER," MATEO ADDED. "NOW MY HEART FUNCTIONS PERFECTLY!"MATEO'S JOURNEY REFLECTS THE HEART OF OUR MISSION: PROVIDING ACCESS TO LIFE-SAVING CARDIAC CARE FOR PATIENTS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.