Lasting Imprint

Lasting Imprint supports families in Minnesota affected by congenital heart defects (CHD)

Lasting Imprint is a non-profit organization established by individuals committed to fighting congenital heart defects by funding research, helping families and educating communities.

Our inspiration comes from the big hearts of the children and adults that have fought and continue to fight CHD every day. Their hearts have touched ours and it is our hope that you join us in our efforts to leave a lasting imprint on the Minnesota CHD community.

What does Lasting Imprint do with their donations?

Donating to research is very important to us and the families we serve because in most cases we just don’t know what causes congenital heart defects.  It is frustrating to be told “we don’t know why this happened.”  Funding research not only helps to move forward in answering “why” but it helps develop the “how” to better treat CHD patients and increase survival rates.  According to the Children’s Heart Foundation,

Twice as many children die from congenital heart defects in the United States than from all forms of childhood cancer combined yet funding for pediatric cancer research is five times greater than funding for congenital heart defects.

Providing CHD Family Kits to cardiac patients is important because this is our first real opportunity to reach families who are often in need of support and encouragement.  Our kits provide items that are helpful during hospital stays such as a water bottle, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, chap stick, children’s book, coloring book and crayons, etc.  The kit is designed to provide items and resources both in the hospital setting and once families return home.  One kit costs approximately $30 and we hand out approximately 100 kits per month between Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, University Of Minnesota Children's Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital.

We also offer families a huge support network of others who have experienced a situation similar to their own by connecting them through family activities and social interaction via Facebook. We hold annual CHD Awareness Week events, family picnics and other opportunities for families to connect.

Raising awareness is an ongoing activity that takes on a variety of forms.  Our two major fundraising events, Our Community Has Heart! in Mankato, MN and the CHD Awareness Walk and 5K in Alexandria, MN, are in fact awareness opportunities.  Unless people know what CHD is, it is hard to move forward in doing and giving more.  Other awareness activities include speaking engagements to nursing classes, college business classes, and community service clubs like Rotary and Kiwanis.  Lasting Imprint often has a booth at different events that are heart or pregnancy focused.  We have partnered with clinics and hospitals to get our brochures to expecting parents who learn of a CHD diagnosis.  We also have established relationships with county employees who work with programs many heart families utilize. We love to take on every opportunity we can to share with others the Lasting Imprint story!

As you can see we are a busy bunch tackling a variety of areas.  It is an incredible load for an organization made up solely of volunteers but our passion aided with your help is leaving an imprint that is simply astounding.  Thank you for your generous hearts and gifts in support of these goals.