BOARD OF DIRECTORS and COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Becky Zavalney - President/Founder and CFO
Gary Zavalney Sr. - VP/Founder
Gary and Becky Zavalney were high school sweethearts. They have been happily married since 1976 and reside in Wyandotte. They have 4 beautiful children of their own and also adopted a beautiful girl who needed a loving family to call her own. They are the Proud Grandparents of Aidan their oldest grandchild of soon to be 13 grandchildren. After Aidan was born with such a severe and complex heart defect- it made all of us realize the need for more awareness, funding and research of Pediatric Congenital Heart Defects. We knew we had to do something “big” to make a difference and the idea that came to mind was doing a cook book. As your gramie, I was determined to finish and make this cook book a success for you. We strive to continue working hard and putting long hours into Hope for Hearts in honor of you, Aidan and also Everett and all the children we have meet over the years born with “special hearts”. To date we have raised over $100,000 for our cause. We are so proud and look forward to what we can accomplish in the years to come.
becky@hope-for-hearts.com
becky@hope-for-hearts.com
Jamie Laforest - Secretary/Founder
Kris LaForest - Treasurer/Founder
Kristopher and Jamie LaForest are the proud parents of CHD Survivor Aidan and his siblings Gabriel, Isabelle, Declan, Everett and anxiously awaiting the arrival of Devereaux this April 2017. After Aidan’s birth in 2004 a beautiful and what everyone thought healthy baby boy our lives were forever changed! Aidan was born with an “undetected” heart defect (Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome) or “Half a Heart”. Our family quickly learned that heart defects are the #1 Birth Defect; there is NO cure, there is little or No funding for children’s hearts, No celebrity sponsorships, No radio-thons and No media coverage. With that being said, we knew we had to do something.
In April 2006, Kristopher, Jamie, Gary and Becky Zavalney (Aidan’s Grandparent’s) started Hope for Hearts a non- profit organization. We put together a cook book and 3 companies donated everything for 5,000 cook books. We have sat in craft shows, street fairs, fall festivals even walked door to door, selling our cook book and telling Aidan’s story. On April 16, 2012 Aidan handed his heart surgeon, Dr. Henry Walters a check in the amount of $40,000. It was a very proud day for Hope for Hearts. Also in 2012, we were granted our gaming license to expand our “fundraising” efforts. We invited more people to join our committee welcoming ideas and suggestions to grow our Organization while also asking for help.
Hope for Hearts continues to grow every year- we host an Annual Craft and Vendor Show, put together a yearly Calendar featuring CHD Survivors and Angels and also host an Annual Dinner and Silent Auction.
In December 2015, God once again blessed our family with another beautiful baby boy born with a CHD. Everett was born with a Functionally Bicuspid Aortic Valve which will require yearly Cardiology appointments, possible medication and or surgery to repair or replace the valve. As a family it is our mission to continue raising the much needed funding for Pediatric Congenital Heart Defects and telling our son’s heart stories in hopes of saving lives.
We are so very proud of all our time and hard work put into Hope for Hearts as with this year’s donation in February 2017, it will put our donations over $100,000 for our cause. Thank you to all involved for your continued time, love and support. We couldn’t do this without you.
Sincerely, Jamie and Kris
jamie@hope-for-hearts.com
In April 2006, Kristopher, Jamie, Gary and Becky Zavalney (Aidan’s Grandparent’s) started Hope for Hearts a non- profit organization. We put together a cook book and 3 companies donated everything for 5,000 cook books. We have sat in craft shows, street fairs, fall festivals even walked door to door, selling our cook book and telling Aidan’s story. On April 16, 2012 Aidan handed his heart surgeon, Dr. Henry Walters a check in the amount of $40,000. It was a very proud day for Hope for Hearts. Also in 2012, we were granted our gaming license to expand our “fundraising” efforts. We invited more people to join our committee welcoming ideas and suggestions to grow our Organization while also asking for help.
Hope for Hearts continues to grow every year- we host an Annual Craft and Vendor Show, put together a yearly Calendar featuring CHD Survivors and Angels and also host an Annual Dinner and Silent Auction.
In December 2015, God once again blessed our family with another beautiful baby boy born with a CHD. Everett was born with a Functionally Bicuspid Aortic Valve which will require yearly Cardiology appointments, possible medication and or surgery to repair or replace the valve. As a family it is our mission to continue raising the much needed funding for Pediatric Congenital Heart Defects and telling our son’s heart stories in hopes of saving lives.
We are so very proud of all our time and hard work put into Hope for Hearts as with this year’s donation in February 2017, it will put our donations over $100,000 for our cause. Thank you to all involved for your continued time, love and support. We couldn’t do this without you.
Sincerely, Jamie and Kris
jamie@hope-for-hearts.com
Alexis Kur - Webmaster/Media Director
Alexis was invited to be a Hope for Hearts Committee Member in 2012. Her interest in Hope for Hearts peaked after the loss of her cousin Stephen to an undiagnosed Heart Defect, Cardiomyopathy, on September 25, 2011. This was also Stephen's 26th birthday. Hope for Hearts has helped me "give puropse and meaning to Stephen's passing".
Alexis grew up with Jamie and her siblings - attending the same school and living just around the corner from the Zavalney Family. She lives with her cat - Princess BooBoo Head. Alexis is passonate about photography and will snap a photo of almost anything or anyone. If there is a Detroit Tigers or Red Wings game on, she will probably be watching.
Alexis is also incharge of - The Faces of Hope and Healing Calendar. This calendar made its appearance in 2013. What began as a small idea and 10 local participants has grown to 80 participants in 2019 from various parts of the US and has become international with participants from Canada and England.
alexis@hope-for-hearts.com
Alexis grew up with Jamie and her siblings - attending the same school and living just around the corner from the Zavalney Family. She lives with her cat - Princess BooBoo Head. Alexis is passonate about photography and will snap a photo of almost anything or anyone. If there is a Detroit Tigers or Red Wings game on, she will probably be watching.
Alexis is also incharge of - The Faces of Hope and Healing Calendar. This calendar made its appearance in 2013. What began as a small idea and 10 local participants has grown to 80 participants in 2019 from various parts of the US and has become international with participants from Canada and England.
alexis@hope-for-hearts.com
Ryan & Angela Zavalney - Committee Members
Ryan Zavalney has been a committee member of the Hope For Hearts organization since it was founded in 2006. Ryan is the proud uncle of Aidan LaForest and his siblings. Ryan is a Sr. Production Operator Detroit, Michigan. Since marrying his wife Angela in 2011 she has joined the team as a committee member supporting the various fundraisers, events & administration for the Hope For Hearts Board of Directors. Angela is Senior Coordinator in the Petroleum/Energy industry in Metro Detroit. Together Ryan and Angela help bring awareness to the organization and cause through both professional and personal connections.
Ryan and Angela reside in Wyandotte, Michigan with their two children Camden, Delilah and their dog Koda.
Ryan and Angela reside in Wyandotte, Michigan with their two children Camden, Delilah and their dog Koda.
Heidi Derwick - Committe Member
Heidi Derwick, Committee member since it was founded in 2006. The proud Auntie and Godmother to Aidan LaForest. A huge goal Heidi has "Is to not only spread
awareness about heart defects, but for this awareness to be as big as Breast Cancer Awareness is one day. It can and will save lives."
Heidi resides in Taylor, Michigan with her husband Gene and their children Noah, Mason, Emery, and Delaney
awareness about heart defects, but for this awareness to be as big as Breast Cancer Awareness is one day. It can and will save lives."
Heidi resides in Taylor, Michigan with her husband Gene and their children Noah, Mason, Emery, and Delaney
Gary Jr. & Audrey Zavalney - Committee Members
Audrey and Gary Zavalney were invited to be Hope for Hearts Committee Members in 2012. They wanted to become committee members to help create awareness for heart defects after their nephew Aidan Kristopher LaForest was born on August 18, 2004, with an undetected heart defect.
Audrey and Gary grew up in Wyandotte. Audrey is a fifth grade teacher, while Gary works at U of M’s Mott’s Children’s Hospital in the Radiology Department. They both enjoy working with children and being around family. They were married in 2012, welcomed a baby girl named Zoey into the family shortly after, and live in Flat Rock. They have a cat named Gabby.
Audrey and Gary grew up in Wyandotte. Audrey is a fifth grade teacher, while Gary works at U of M’s Mott’s Children’s Hospital in the Radiology Department. They both enjoy working with children and being around family. They were married in 2012, welcomed a baby girl named Zoey into the family shortly after, and live in Flat Rock. They have a cat named Gabby.
Brittany Thomas - Committee Member
Brittany Thomas became a Hope for Hearts member in 2012. Brittany is married Aaron Thomas, cousin to Jamie LaForest. Brittany and Aaron's son, Bayden, was also born with multiple congenital heart defects. Bayden underwent his first open heart surgery in August 2009 when he was 4 months old. Jamie LaForest was the first person to reach out to Brittany and Aaron right after Bayden was diagnosed. Ever since then, Brittany has been reaching out to support other CHD
families. Bayden has inspired Brittany to go back to school for nursing, in hopes to work in the congenital heart unit.
Brittany, Aaron,and their sons Bayden and Maverick live in New Boston with their Puppy.
families. Bayden has inspired Brittany to go back to school for nursing, in hopes to work in the congenital heart unit.
Brittany, Aaron,and their sons Bayden and Maverick live in New Boston with their Puppy.
Michael & Pamela Schmidt - Committee Members
Michael and Pamela Schmidt were first introduced to Hope for Hearts in 2017 when Pamela attended the yearly vendor show. Immediately she introduced herself and spoke of her son's story. Not long after they attended their first Silent Auction dinner and were hooked. They knew they wanted to do anything and everything they could to Support CHD families and HFH awareness.
December of 2018 they started their journey, with Jamie by their side with so much support, as they faced their child's first open heart.
Michael and Pamela have 3 kids (Michael's bonus kids). Mackenzie who is 18, first year medical student 2019 inspired by her brother's health issues. Khamel who is 15, who has been through numerous tests and surgeries due to his Aortic Stenosis. (March 2020 is 2 years with a repaired heart) Aliya who is the youngest, 11, that loves to support anything to help people like her brother.
With the support of their family and friends they all hope to bring tremendous awareness to CHD and Hope for Hearts.
December of 2018 they started their journey, with Jamie by their side with so much support, as they faced their child's first open heart.
Michael and Pamela have 3 kids (Michael's bonus kids). Mackenzie who is 18, first year medical student 2019 inspired by her brother's health issues. Khamel who is 15, who has been through numerous tests and surgeries due to his Aortic Stenosis. (March 2020 is 2 years with a repaired heart) Aliya who is the youngest, 11, that loves to support anything to help people like her brother.
With the support of their family and friends they all hope to bring tremendous awareness to CHD and Hope for Hearts.