2 HEARTBEAT® JANUARY–MARCH 2024 HEARTTOHEART MHI set into motion its five- year strategic plan to attain its corporate goals through the pillars of our mission – Support, Education, and Advocacy. Focus on Growth Pays Off T he Mended Hearts, Inc. (MHI) has experienced a very busy and exciting 2023. We opened our new office and MHI University (MHIU) in Leesburg, Georgia and installed a new Board of Directors. On an international level, Mended Hearts Switzerland (Mended Hearts Europe) was formed to serve Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Most impor- tantly, MHI set into motion its five-year strategic plan to attain its corporate goals through the pillars of our mission – Support, Educa- tion, and Advocacy. With the work, efforts, and support of our staff, members, and donors, many of our 2023 goals have been realized, setting us up for continued success as we move forward into 2024. Some of the highlights of our 2023 goal achievements include: Expand Our Reach: Our membership has increased from 96,416 at the end of 2022 to 115,155 in 2023 with members from 33 countries. We now serve an additional 40 hospitals that do not have chapters or groups available to them. Build Holistic Educational Programs: We have added three new programs designed to meet the needs of patients across the lifespan and expanded educational opportunities to include four comorbidi- ties of heart disease. Build Awareness: We have increased our chapter/group support and built one foreign website. Recruit, Educate, and Empower Advocates: MHI has trained 176 advocate speakers and 45 champions. Increase Diversity: MHI has increased its diverse leadership to 4.76%. In our 72-year history, MHI had its best year ever in 2023. It is because of you, our dedicated members, volunteers, donors, and staff, that we are able to continue our mission “to inspire hope and improve the quality of life of heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support, education, and advocacy.” Your passion and commitment are evident in our positive yearend results. We have many more goals to achieve, which we will accom- plish together in the coming year. Thank you for all you do for The Mended Hearts, Inc. All the best, Denise Duch Widzgowski President, Chair of the Board The Mended Hearts, Inc.
