Save A Child's Heart YLG

Lucie Pivnick is a second year medical student at McMaster University.  

She completed her B.A.&Sc. at McGill University in 2013 and her MSc. of Global Health at McMaster in 2014. 

Lucie’s involvement at SACH began as a full-time volunteer at the Children’s Home in Tel Aviv in 2010. She continued her involvement as an executive member of the McGill SACH Club in Montreal. While on a field study, she helped complete follow-up interviews with former SACH patients in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Lucie returned to Israel during her Masters of Global Health to conduct research on SACH under the mentorship of Dr. Bernard Goldman, cardiac surgeon and former Chairman of the Canadian SACH Board. 

Lucie co-authored the paper “Mending Hearts and Building Bridges: The Save a Child’s Heart Foundation,” which was accepted for publication to the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice. She recently joined Dr. Goldman in Chicago at the American Public Health Association Annual General Meeting & Exposition to present SACH as a model leading global health care initiative.

Title: Mending Hearts, Building Bridges: SACH at 20 years

Objectives: SACH addresses cardiac care for children in developing countries by establishing a center of excellence (WMC), creating partner referral sites and training medical teams to return to their communities to provide competent, sustainable local care. Of special interest is the cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Methods: The Heart of the Matter Project  (co-sponsored  by the EU, USAID, Israel Ministry for Regional Cooperation and the PA Ministry of Health ) improves cardiac care for children in the WB and Gaza, facilitates improved interaction between PA and Israeli physicians, convenes seminars for PA doctors at WMC and trains PA medical  teams to build their own capacity for local cardiac care.

Results: SACH has performed surgery on >3,600 children from 48 countries, 50% from Iraq, Jordan, the PA and Gaza (even during conflict) with increasing children from Syrian refugee camps. SACH has examined >6,000 children from the PA and Gaza and operated on 1,750 Palestinian children. SACH has trained 21 medical personnel from the PA and currently is training a team for pediatric heart disease at the Palestine Medical Complex (PMC) in Ramallah under an agreement that will provide for referrals, partial funding and interactions between the PMC and the WMC. SACH also provides support and dialogue activity groups for caregivers (now >200) attending hospital with the children at WMC to ease anxiety an unfamiliarity.

Conclusions:  SACH responds to the challenges of cardiac care for children in remote regions by providing free services on a voluntary basis at the WMC in Israel: SACH is a model for a global humanitarian health care initiative. The Heart of the Matter Project is a similar model for regional cooperation in pediatric cardiac care.

Thank you Lucie! Looking forward to seeing you on December 5th at the Young Leadership Conference in NYC.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

This is it! 

On Monday, December 7, from 6pm-9pm, join us for drinks, light fare, art, music and shopping amongst fifteen boutique vendors, at Prince George Ballroom for Shop Your Heart Out to support Save a Child's Heart. 

Free admission. (no under age)

This year:

Honoring CH Entertainment and the Stand

Featuring artist @Tripp Derrick Barnes

Hosted by Chris Schembra

Co-Chaired by Parul-Gita Brahmbhatt and Lawrence Metelitsa 

We’ll edit more details, the vendors and sponsors list very soon so stay tuned.

In the meantime book you VIP tables ($500) @ [email protected]

Stay tuned with the news, here.

See you soon...

#SACHYL

Hannah Chase is a teacher, director, and performer of improvisation, as well a career counselor. She uses applied improvisation techniques to work with individuals and companies on a variety of professional development and leadership topics, and has worked with large companies, startups, and educational institutions all over the country. She has been studying and performing improvisation since 2002, and currently teaches classes in improvisation at the Magnet Theater and at Columbia Business School. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College. 

Hannah Chase will lead a 3-hour workshop using the principles of improvisation to work on team-building, confidence, leadership, and presentation skills. The workshop will include a combination of improv exercises and facilitated discussion in order to cement the principles covered as well as brainstorm ways in which these principles can be applied to the participants’ lives (both with SACH and at their jobs). 

Thank you Hannah!

See you all at the Young Leadership Conference.

Title of the talk: 

Mending Hearts, Building Bridges: SACH at 20 years

Content:

In 1995, Wolfson Hospital did  not have permission from the Israeli Ministry of Health to open a Pediatric Heart Surgery Unit. Dr. Ami Cohen operated on Ethiopian kids and found the funds later. Twenty years later, SACH is a UN sponsored NGO and a global humanitarian health care initiative that has provided heart surgery to almost 3,800 children from 50 countries. The case mix is unique and rarely seen in the Western world. SACH is also a model for the effective delivery of tertiary health care in a region of tension and conflict due to the remarkable cooperation that has evolved with doctors from Gaza, the Palestinian Authority and other Arab states.

Personal:

Dr. Bernard S. Goldman, MD, BSc(Med), FRCSC, FACS

Dr. Bernard (Bernie) Goldman is a now retired Cardiac Surgeon who has been involved with SACH for over 20 years. Prof. Arie Schachner has been a friend and colleague for 40 plus years and he met Ami Cohen during his Fellowship year at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. He was Chairman of the Canadian SACH Board until recently.

During his surgical career he trained a dozen Israeli cardiac surgical fellows in Toronto; he has taught, lectured and operated at most of the major hospitals in Israel.

Bernie is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto and former Head of Cardiac Surgery as well as Surgeon in Chief at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre. He was awarded the Order of Canada for his contributions to cardiovascular health in Canada. He is committed to increasing public awareness and the professional achievements of the SACH team in Israel.

We are very honored to have you Bernie! Thank you.

“I visited the SACH headquarters while in Israel this past summer with my 2 brothers and 40 other amazing people. 

After spending a few hours at the facility and learning about the vision of the organization I gained a strong belief in and desire to spread their mission. A major issue in charitable organizations today is that they go into a problem, provide aid, and leave. 

The people have no chance of ever being able to develop self-sufficient, sustainable practices and will therefore be in a continuous cycle of always needing outside forces to come in and fix the problem. SACH not only provides immediate pediatric heart care to children who cannot survive without it, but they are in the process of developing sustainable practices within the countries they are working with so that they can eventually provide healthcare to their own citizens without the aid of others. They're long term goal is to create "Centers of Competence" around the world, which will enable local medical personnel to provide these life saving services on their own. 

This is a full outreach program that brings doctors and nurses to the SACH center for in-depth, post graduate training; it also sends staff overseas to provide this education to local medical professionals, as well as perform surgeries side by side with them.”

Quincie Glimcher is a current student at THE Ohio State University from Scottsdale, Arizona. 

She is the youngest of 6 children and loves every part of having a big family. This past summer she went to Israel on Birthright, traveled Greece, and then spent a month in Tanzania volunteering and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. She is currently a team leader for BuckeyeThon which is a dance marathon that raises money for the local children's hospital, a recruiter for the Taglit Birthright trips, a member of the a Buckeye Leadership Fellows Program, and she spends one day a week as a Junior Achievement mentor for students at a local elementary school. 

From snowboarding, mountain biking, and hiking to campfires and s'mores Quincie loves to be outdoors. 

Thank you Quincie!

The Young Leadership Conference happening in NYC at The Magnet Theater, from December 5 - December 6 is getting closer, book your ticket here. Check out the amazing schedule and the amazing speakers: Friday Night, Opening Session at Café Katia 7:00PM - 9:00PM Cocktail and Networking at TBD Saturday, Conference Day 9:00AM - 9:30AM Breakfast 9:30AM - 12:00PM Leadership Theater Workshop with Magnet Theater Company with Hannah Chase an Improv Teacher, Career Coach, Multimedia Professional and an EMBA Career Management at Columbia Business School.

For more information about the talk and our inspiring coach click here.

12:00PM - 1:00PM Lunch Break Out 1:00PM - 2:15PM Mending hearts, Building Bridges: SACH at 20 years with Dr. Bernard S. Goldman.

For more information about the talk and our inspiring speaker, click here.  2:30PM - 2:45PM Coffee Break 2:45PM - 3:30PM Create your own SACH movement: #LightACandleSaveAHeart

Find out more about the amazing movement Chris Schembra started here.  

3:45PM - 5PM SACH vision, strategy, fundraising and social media with SACH Young Leadership Director Randi Weiss Looking forward to seeing you all there and a huge thanks to our partners SquadUp and the Magnet Theater.

After studying international business at Rollins College, Chris attended the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Patagonia, Chile.  Chris was involved in the sales team for HHIPG and worked in collaboration with the NFLPA and the National Guard to provide a life skills program to 150,000 high school student-athletes in 28 cities for the National Football League.

After arriving in New York, he became Producer at MNA Productions, Inc., a production company held by Emmy Award-Winning Actor Tony Lo Bianco. Chris has a passion for philanthrophy and a gift for networking and is a active member of the New York Executive Board of Save a Child's Heart, an international non-profit based in Tel-Aviv, Israel.

This year, Chris is dedicating his birthday to hosting a #BirthdayGives Flashmob for Save A Child's Heart, called #LightACandleSaveAHeart.  On September 19th, 2015, hundreds of people around the world will be lighting candles in honor of the 250 children saved by SACH this calendar year.  In New York City, at 7 pm in Times Square, the #LightACandleSaveAHeart Flashmob will meet and light candles at the iconic Red Steps.  Even if supporters aren't in the New York area, people are encouraged to post a photo of themselves on Social Media holding a candle, and use the hashtag #LightACandleSaveAHeart and #BirthdayGives.  

Chris' #BirthdayGives campaign was inspired by dear friend and inspirational leader in Women's Fashion, Carrie Hammer (www.CarrieHammer.com). On her 27th birthday, Carrie and friends went into the public to give out 27 roses to create #BirthdayGives.  The next year, they grew and passed out 280 flowers to support #BirthdayGives.  As stories from around the world started pouring in, Carrie partnered with 1-800-Flowers.com to pass out 2,900 Roses.  

Join Chris, SACH YL board and SACH members to grow the movement: #LightACandleSaveAHeart.

Thank you Chris!

Gillian Shulman, a 17 year old rising senior, Millbrook High School, Raleigh, NC, is committed to "tikkun olam,” which is Hebrew for “repairing the world.”  As a young leader honoring her upcoming 18th birthday, Gillian has started a fundraising campaign for Save A Child’s Heart (SACH), https://www.crowdrise.com/gilliansavesliveswithsach

She says, “What better way is there to celebrate life than helping to save the lives of children born with congenital heart defects who are from developing countries.”

Supporting local and global communities, Gillian balances her time by working with several non- profits, including these in the past:

American Red Cross as top regional fundraiser in High School Heroes Red Cross Program;

Medicine Wheel, Waltham, MA, building a stone wall and improving a vandalized path in South Boston’s “No Man’s Land;”

Feeding Los Cabos Kids, San José, Mexico, working with Cabo Church members at a soup kitchen to feed “dirt poor” children and women.

Gillian is currently a regular volunteer at her local food bank, and is participating in a medicine and healthcare program in Jamaica, while continuing to fundraise for SACH. Gillian, an advocate for Human Rights and supporter of Israel, makes it her mission to constantly find ways to help repair the world. She prefers to devote time to several causes, even if working with more than one at the same time.

Thank you so much Gillian!

Dear SACH friends, 

As some may already know, SACH Young Professionals from all over the world will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in August for Save a Child's Heart. Together we are fundraising $40,000 to save the lives of 4 children in need of life-saving heart surgery. Each climber has an individual goal of $2,500. Two of the NYC YP members, Zoya Treyster and Jake Javitch, will be taking part in the climb, which can only mean one thing... rooftop party. 

When: Monday May 18th, from 7pm to 9pm

Where: Delancey Hotel

Drink special and Happy Hour from 7pm to 8pm!

Our climbers:

Zoya is a general pediatrician working in a community clinic in Washington Heights. She's been involved with SACH for seven years, in both Israel and in the States. She's very excited about this upcoming opportunity to make a difference in the lives of kids all over the world.

Jake is the Assistant Director of Camp Walt Whitman – an outdoor adventure summer camp where he met Randi Weiss (YL Director) who got him involved with SACH.  He is passionate about changing the lives of children and is ecstatic at the chance to be involved with this amazing undertaking.  

‘I will also get to the top of Kili days before Zoya and probably a decade or maybe a lifetime before Caroline.  I plan on doing the electric slide on the top.’

We were able to reach out to Zoya and she answered the following: ‘I admit that Jake is likely to beat her to the top but I am sure I can out- electric slide him when at the top of Kili.’

As for Caroline (US YL Director), she responded that she was more likely to wait for them at the bottom of the mountain, with a nice glass of wine.

As usual, 100% of the donations go towards children's surgeries. 

You can start by supporting Zoya  and Jake by clicking on their names.

Thank you

"I feel very fortunate that I was allowed to experience both the full-time volunteer position and the medical internship position. This meant that I was able to get closer with the children while also being taught about their medical conditions.There is the medical aspect which I am passionate about—learning what is wrong medically and how it can be fixed—and then there is the background story behind the patient and the families that are affected as well.

It amazed me how resilient the children are and how crucial it is for them to be in an environment that offers a lot of love and support. I fell in love with the Save A Child’s Heart organization because of the incredible service that’s being provided to children going through a really challenging time. A lot of these children come without their families and are relying on the adults around them to keep them feeling safe and secure.

Having both part-time and full-time volunteers to keep the children entertained and busy is such a big help in the healing process. Some of the children seem despondent after their heart surgeries, and the SACH home provides an emotional support system for them that helps them bounce back very quickly. At the SACH house, the kids receive a lot of love and attention. Just having someone to play with and dance with is enough for many of these kids. The most rewarding part of SACH is seeing the kids laughing and having a good time. They are just like regular kids, after all, who like taking selfies with the volunteers' iPhones!

The support is also needed at the hospital, when the child is in a hospital bed and terrified of their circumstance. A simple smile and a wave was sometimes all it took to get them to feel more at ease. Holding their hand was sometimes enough. Other times distracting them with an iPhone was enough. Even though we spoke a different language, any age can understand the language of love.

On one of the days, a 6-year-old girl named Joyce vented to me in Swahili while pointing at her heart. Like a mini-adult, she held a small hand towel and would wipe away her own tears. This is a girl who has so much love to give, whose smile brightens up anyone's day, and whose strength I will always admire.

During my medical internship, my morning started off with children running to me and giving me a hug goodbye. My days ended with playing or dancing with the children and warmly taking in all the love in the room. There was one child who came and was unable to communicate with anyone there because of a language barrier, and towards the end of my stay, he really came out of his shell and was smiling a lot more. He seemed more comfortable being at the SACH house. Additionally, celebrating their birthdays—an idea that Chelsey had—really made them feel so special. I could tell that SACH would be a positive memory for them for years to come.

All of these facets together make the SACH organization a huge reason why I have faith in humanity.

Another side of Save A Child’s heart that truly polished my experience was the Palestinian Clinic. I started my medical school education in Italy, and in the summer of 2014, a few students passionately vocalized to me their anti-Israel views. At the Wolfson hospital in Holon, I witnessed Israeli doctors operating on and examining Palestinian children, and the families being so grateful. As such, it felt incredible to feel the peace between Israelis and Palestinians in the hospital setting.

Genuinely good people can be found at Save A Child’s Heart. The staff and the volunteers, the doctors and the benefactors are all beautiful and incredible people who work together to uplift many lives. Thank you again for the opportunity to have this experience."

If you want to take part in SACH amazing initiatives, and make a difference, join us for the Give Your Heart Out Campaign #GYHO2015:

1) By organizing and hosting fundraising events in their communities.

2) By becoming what we call a "champion" and creating a personal fundraising page through our campaign website. These champions will set a fundraising goal, inviting friends and family to donate through their page. Champions may also throw events and designate the proceeds towards their own fundraising goal.

You can check out the campaign page here: Give Your Heart Out SACH V-Day Campaign 2015 and have a look at our Launch Video Campaign.

On December 2nd, SACHNY hosted its third Shop Your Heart Out Event and raised $20,000 saving two more children.

A big shout out to our sponsors Pinkberry, Potatopia, The Market NYC, KIND, Ziggy's Kettle Corn, Sharing Box, and especially Joe Fresh for making this event possible. A big Thank you also to the team, all the vendors, participants, attendees, friends and the venue The Latin Quarters NY.

The US Young Leadership Group is so thankful for this past year. We saved, this year, more than 20 kids in New York only thanks to the energy, passion and initiatives of our young leaders and young professionals.

Next week, the Young Leadership Program of Save a Child's Heart is preparing to launch it's sixth annual Give your Heart Out Campaign.

With a global effort powered by a strong network of students and young professionals, our goal in 2015 is to raise $150,000 to save the lives of 15 children. In addition to our monetary goal, we intend to spread the word of SACH throughout the world, contributing to the growth of our organization.

Join the movement and make a tangible change into the world.

If you want to get involved, contact [email protected]

Thank you again to all our volunteers, committee members, board(s), co-chairs, co-host, sponsors for your constant support.

You make us what we are.

Happy holidays

Adena Philips, will speak at the Young Leadership Conference happening from November 21st thru November 22nd. For more information, click here

Adena Philips works with non-profit organizations and Fortune 500 companies, providing strategic consulting and executive coaching. She began her career in the Strategy and Operations group at Deloitte Consulting, where she also served as local office champion for training and development.

Adena is passionate about helping organizations and individuals use self-knowledge and personal values to lead authentically, consistently, and effectively. She currently works with organizations ranging from pharmaceutical companies, banks and casinos, to synagogues, governments and non-profits.  She has worked with executives, non-profit founders, and Clergy to craft vision, solve problems, and execute strategies for growth.

Adena is on the board of the Council of Young Jewish Presidents, is a global co-chair for ACCESS, the American Jewish Committee's new generation program, and serves on the steering committee AJC's Contemporary Jewish Life Commission. She is a certified Lead by Greatness Coach, holds a BA in Philosophy and Communications, and a Master of Business Administration with specializations in Strategy and Leadership and Change Management.

Thanks Adena!

Gerardo Porteny Backal, will lead an inspiring talk on his experience and how to reach universal gender equality at the Young Leadership Conference happening from November 21st thru November 22nd. For more information, click here

Is a youth leader and social innovator. He is the founder and president of the global movement Young Men for Gender Equality, partnering with youth across the world, inspiring them to join his life journey: Reaching universal gender equality. Gerardo is a restless Human Rights activist, working to empower women and girls in all sectors, understanding the benefits that this brings to every single person, particularly to Young Men.

He is a Serial Non Profiteer having founded 5 NPO’s based in Mexico City, the first one being Pink Life Against Breast Cancer which he founded when he was 16 years old. Raising up to date more than $1,150,000 MXN for the fight against breast cancer, rallying up more than 3500 youth and kids to raise awareness about the cause using the “Pink Life” sweatshirt he created and organizing multiple social, cultural, academic and sport events highlighting the two pink marathons.

Thank you Gerardo!

Joshua-Marc Tanenbaum will lead an inspiring talk on cultivating young donors in the 21st  century and discuss his experience as both a professional and lay leader at the Young Leadership Conference happening this year in NYC, from November 21st thru November 22nd. For more information, click here.

Josh, a young entrepreneur, philanthropist and social activist, was born and raised in New York City. Josh currently runs LEGACY Philanthropy Mentoring, and was previously the Founder and CEO of LOCAL VIBES, which was recognized in June 2013 as one of the top up-and-coming local music businesses by New Music Seminar.

Josh’s passions lie in Young Leadership Development, Music, and bridging Religio-Cultural Divides. Josh is currently the Youth Liaison and the head of the Emerging Leaders Circle at the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, a member of the Council of Young Jewish Presidents, a member of the Young Executive Board for the America-Israel Culture Foundation, and a Young World Fellow of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Foundation. He is also active with the Jewish Funders Network, Nexus Global Youth Summit and is a Jr. Board Member of the Polonsky Foundation. Previously, he had been a member of the Australian Consulate’s New York Young Leaders and Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees in Jordon,

The past year, Josh was recognized by Pi Kappa Phi as one of its Thirty Under 30. He currently works at Korn Ferry in their Global Financial Market practice specializing in Asset Management and Alternative Investments and supports the Not-for-Profit Practice. He is also a Global Client Manager for Korn Ferry’s Premier Client Partnerships within financial services.

Thank you Josh!

Romola Ratnam will lead an inspiring talk about: Perspectives on Philanthropy and Leadership at the Young Leadership Conference happening this year in NYC, from November 21st thru November 22nd. For more information, click here.

She is Co-Executive Director of the SEED Project, a non-profit based in Senegal that uses education and basketball to develop the next generation of Senegalese leaders. Romola oversees the organization's business operations, marketing and strategic partnerships, including Nike, the NBA and USAID. Romola started her career in the Global Business Development group at the National Basketball Association. In this position, she secured marketing partnerships for the NBA, with a particular focus on international regions and social impact initiatives. While at the NBA she played an integral role in securing partnerships with HP, Sears and Spanish multi-national banking conglomerate, BBVA.

In 2012, Romola left her position at the League office to consult on BBVA's international NBA marketing program, which included negotiating and managing relationships with entities such as the NBA, WNBA, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, James Harden and Kevin Durant. Romola has been recognized for her work by Sports Pro Media as a NEXT 10 Global Sports Industry Leader under 30, and 30 under 30 by Sports Launch Magazine. Romola graduated Summa Cum Laude from New York University.

Thank you Romola!

Sami H. Elmansoury  will lead a workshop on : Humanization Amid Conflict at the Young Leadership Conference happening this year in NYC, from November 21st thru November 22nd. For more information, click here.

Is a speaker and writer on issues ranging from education and national security, to faith and identity politics. Among other capacities, he currently serves on the Immigrant Rights Task Force of the Office of the Borough President of Manhattan, the Executive Boards of the Muslim Public Affairs Council of New York City and the Egyptian-American Professional Society, the Board of Advisors of the New Leaders Council of New Jersey, as Commissioner on the Monmouth County Human Relations Commission, as a Co-Chair for the Vienna-based Muslim Jewish Conference, and as a Founding Member of the US Department of State's Generation Change initiative.

With a career built on advancing exceptional education in the United States and abroad, Elmansoury is Founder of Precision Learning, a company dedicated to providing a personalized vantage point on exam preparation, admissions counseling, and other academic services. He is also Founder of The Elmansoury Group, a project-based investment firm that seeks to strengthen communities. In 2013, Elmansoury was inducted as a World Young Leader by the BMW Foundation for his educational work and social activism. He is a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post.

Thank you Sami!

Dawn Strauss will lead a workshop on : Becoming Your Own Non-Profit Leader at the Young Leadership Conference happening this year in NYC, from November 21st thru November 22nd. For more information, click here.

Seven years ago, Dawn Strauss' 15 month old daughter, Shayna Strauss, lay in the cardiac ICU unit at Children's in Dallas, fighting for her life after a very difficult open heart surgery. Incredibly grateful to Children's and all those who helped Shayna, Dawn founded Team Shayna in 2010 as a way to maybe raise $1000 that could be given back to the Heart Center at Children's to say "thank you" for all they had done. 

Four years and over $50,000 later, Team Shayna has grown into a fundraising and educational force. After hearing Dawn & Shayna's incredible story, Dawn will work with you to help you take an idea or two that maybe you have been tossing around and turn it into an action plan.

You will leave Dawn's session laughing, inspired, and able to turn a simple idea into something great.

Go friend Dawn on Facebook (Dawn Spechler Strauss) and follow her on Twitter @dawnstrauss

Thank you Dawn!