In the past, the Healthy Heart Club has assisted the families of children with heart conditions through surgical assistance, and organized activities for the youth of the Healthy Heart Club; the "club" consisted of a physical therapist who worked with kids through exercise camps one weekend a month. Over the years, insurance became a very large expense to have Brian working with the kids, and once the HHC moved locations, it was no longer equipped with a physical therapist.

Because of this, the Littrells decided to take the Healthy Heart Club in a new direction, and in doing so, have divided the HHC into two sections: Surgical Assistance, and the Angels and Heroes Fund.

Surgical Assitance remains dedicated to helping families in need who have been affected by heart problems. The Healthy Heart Club will continue to work with these qualifying families by providing financial assistance to help toward such necessities as gas, food, travel and lodging, and personal expenses left uncovered by health insurance, as many families are required to travel to another city or state to receive proper medical care for their child.

The newest Surgical Assistance Project is providing awareness and financial assistance for children with Kawasaki's Syndrome. The HHC will be assisting families with payments for the treatments of the condition, as well as working with hospitals to better diagnose and treat Kawasaki's.

Angels and Heroes
Rather than spend the money for insurance on the club, the Littrells wanted to reach out to as many families as possible with the HHC's funds, and so the second part of the club, the Angels and Heroes fund, named from a song on Brian's solo CD "Welcome Home", was created.

Angels and Heroes will be gifts from the Littrell's hearts to people who do not have a heart related illness but are in need of assistance. Its funding will help victims of natural disasters, such as hurricanes or tornados, in addition to those who need assistance in our communities, such as military families, police officers, firemen, and teachers. The gift will be in the form of providing funds directly to recipients needing financial assistance, or toward rallying communities and businesses to help others in their time of need.

Through the Angels and Heroes Fund, the Healthy Heart Club was able to help two military families over the holidays, the Ecksteins, and the Smiths, who are stationed in Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia. The HHC provided these families with money for Christmas gifts, and paid one year of their utilities in addition to school funding for the children.

The Healthy Heart Club would like to reach out to these men and women who have done so much for our country, and looks forward to working with Fort Gordon, The Retired New York Shields of Georgia, and many others.

For questions about Surgical Assitance or Angels and Heroes, contact Madison at madison@healthyheartclub.org.

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