After six years of operating as simply a nonprofit corporation in the state of Florida, Broken Hearts of Florida Inc. applied earlier this year for tax-exempt recognition from the Internal Revenue Service. It was an important step for if the organization wanted to move forward, grow and provide more programs, services and resources for its heart families.
GOAL ACHIEVED!
GOAL ACHIEVED!
Broken Hearts of Florida Inc. -- which supports, educates and connects families affected by congenital heart disease and other pediatric heart diseases -- received its Letter of Determination today from the Internal Revenue Service, declaring BHF tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions to BHF are tax-deductible under section 170 of the Code. Further, BHF is considered a Public Charity by the IRS.
Broken Hearts of Florida was founded in 2006 as a local support group, Broken Hearts of the Big Bend. It was established as a nonprofit corporation with the Division of Corporations with the State of Florida in 2007.
"Our families are the core of our organization," said Karen Thurston Chavez, BHF Founder and BHF's executive director of operations and outreach. "We're looking forward to a fantastic 2013!"
In late 2010, Broken Hearts of the Big Bend changed its name to Broken Hearts of Florida to reflect its growth. Broken Hearts has grown from just a handful of Big Bend Region families to more than 200 families from all across Florida, with concentrated membership throughout the Panhandle and North Central regions of the Sunshine State. We have three chapters -- Big Bend Region (Tallahassee and surrounding counties), Emerald Coast (Panama City and surrounding areas) and Central Florida (greater Gainesville and Ocala areas).
In the beginning, our services in the beginning consisted simply of occasional meetings and moral support. Today, Broken Hearts of Florida provides:
- a Financial Assistance Program to heart families in need;
- the Food from the Heart Pantry at the UF Health Shands Children's Hospital Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit;
- care bags for children and families in the hospital;
- a weekly meal for families in the UF Health Shands Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit; and
- regular dinner meetings.
For more information about Broken Hearts of Florida and to find out if there are Broken Hearts families in your area, contact us:
- Email: info@brokenheartsflorida.org
- Like us on Facebook: Broken Hearts of Florida
- Follow us on Twitter: @BrknHrtsFL
- Office: 850.668.5864 | Fax: 850.668.5865
- P.O. Box 180423, Tallahassee, FL 32318
