Credit:Heart to Heart International

Heart to Heart's mission is supported by core values that drive its decision-making and humanitarian activities. Heart to Heart is focused on helping people in need, regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, or personal or political beliefs. It acknowledges that a life-changing connection occurs when people in service help people in need and therefore actively recruits and place volunteers in its humanitarian programs in more than 60 countries, including the United States. Heart to Heart understands the power of partnership and it has teamed up with leading medical associations, academic institutions, civic groups and Fortune 500 companies to maximize its global efforts. The organization has also built quality-minded thinking into its systems and activities, so that every effort strives to meet the highest standards for excellence.

The organization has ongoing humanitarian programs in five world regions.

• East Asia/Pacific: In China, Heart to Heart leads efforts to reduce infant mortality due to oxygen distress, reduce cataract-related blindness, and increase response time to local emergencies. The organization also has strong hospital partnerships in Cambodia, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam. Heart to Heart is also involved in ongoing medical-relief operations in tsunami-affected regions of Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
• Europe/Central Asia: Heart to Heart is working to enhance efforts to develop the practice of family medicine in many national health systems of the former Soviet Union, as well as improve maternal health through an innovative train-the-trainer program.
• Africa/Middle East: Heart to Heart supports healthcare development efforts in more than 20 countries each year and has a promising AIDS treatment program in Nigeria. The organization is also assisting in the rebuilding process following the regional conflict in southern Lebanon.
• Latin America/Caribbean: Heart to Heart has major hospital partnerships in Bolivia and Panama and supports healthcare development work throughout the region.
• United States: Heart to Heart works with frontline agencies across the country to address community health issues. The organization continues to provide free health services to victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Heart to Heart is also innovating the way organizations respond to crises around the world. Working with FedEx and a host of world-class partners, the organization has developed a series of Forward Response Centers, which store critical supplies needed in the wake of complex humanitarian disasters. Utilizing FedEx assets and logistical systems, Heart to Heart can deliver these supplies within 24 hours (in most cases) of receiving the "international 911 call" for assistance.