CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney and CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island are celebrating American Heart Month by partnering with the American Heart Association for the Little Hats, Big Hearts™ program.
The program raises awareness of heart disease, which is the No. 1 killer of Americans, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country. During the program, every baby born at Good Samaritan and St. Francis in February has received a red knitted or crocheted hat handmade by the Association’s volunteers.
This is the third year of the Little Hats, Big Hearts program, which provides hats to newborn babies in 35 states across the country, but the first time Nebraska hospitals are participating. Nearly 2,000 hats were collected from around the state to distribute at 26 hospitals.
Other CHI Health hospitals in Nebraska and southwestern Iowa participating in Little Hats, Big Hearts program include:
- CHI Health Bergan Mercy (Omaha)
- CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center (Omaha)
- CHI Health Immanuel (Omaha)
- CHI Health Lakeside (Omaha)
- CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs (Council Bluffs, Iowa)
- CHI Health St. Elizabeth (Lincoln)
- CHI Health St. Mary’s (Nebraska City)
For more information on the program, visit the American Heart Association’s website at www.heart.org/LittleHatsBigHearts.
American Heart Month is an annual celebration in February that began in 1963 to encourage Americans to join the battle against heart disease. A presidential proclamation pays tribute each year to researchers, physicians, public health professionals and volunteers for their tireless efforts in preventing, treating and researching heart disease. One of the marquee events of American Heart Month is National Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016.
Questions regarding the participation of Good Samaritan and St. Francis in Little Hats, Big Hearts can be directed to Anna Fryda in Kearney via e-mail at annfryda@catholichealth.net or Terry Douglass in Grand Island at tdouglass@sfmc-gi.org. For additional information on American Heart Association programs and events, please contact Jamie Schneider at Jamie.Schneider@heart.org.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke — America’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country.
About CHI Health
CHI Health is a regional health network with a unified mission: nurturing the healing ministry of the Church while creating healthier communities. Headquartered in Omaha, the combined organization consists of 15 hospitals, two stand-alone behavioral health facilities and more than 150 employed physician practice locations in Nebraska and southwestern Iowa. More than 12,000 employees comprise the workforce of this network that includes 2,820 licensed beds and serves as the primary teaching partner of Creighton University’s health sciences schools. In fiscal year 2014, the organization provided a combined $149.3 million in quantified community benefit including services for the poor, free clinics, education and research. Eight hospitals within the system are designated Magnet, Pathway to Excellence or NICHE. With locations stretching from North Platte, Nebraska, to Missouri Valley, Iowa, the health network is the largest in Nebraska and serves residents of Nebraska and southwest Iowa. For more information, visit online at CHIhealth.com