First, let me express my deep and sincere appreciation and gratitude to our network of physicians, hospitals, nurses, and social workers across the globe who donate their time, talent, and treasury in service to those in need of a life saving Pacemaker and other implantable cardiac devices. A special thanks to the members of Rotary International who have been associated with Heartbeat International for the past 25 years. Without these volunteers the next 25 years and a new and expanded vision for Heartbeat International would not be possible to consider.

Heartbeat International has worked diligently over the last 6 months to develop a new Strategic Direction for our Foundation. As Chairman & CEO my commitment was to create a platform to share the mission of Heartbeat International with the global community as we SAVE LIVES. In fulfilling this commitment we needed a platform and doorway that leads us to our new future. The result is a new polished brand & image, new messaging, new dynamic website and new global strategy. We are so proud of all the hard work that has gone into this enormous project and feel confident you will agree that today is truly a New Day for Heartbeat International.

Heartbeat International Foundation is now in 24 countries around the world and has saved over 10,000 lives. Each day and every day we are saving lives; lives that would otherwise perish. It is estimated that there are between 1 and 3 million people around the world that are in need of a pacemaker. This number grows each and every year as the world’s population ages. It is our goal to save as many of those lives as we can. We realize that in doing so we also affect the lives of countless thousands around those who are directly helped.

As we look to the future, it is clear that this same population of people are in need of other resources for excellent cardiovascular health. They include heart valves, stents, drugs, and procedures that are provided by the hundreds of thousands in the United States of America but are unavailable to the masses in the countries we serve. Thus, our vision is to expand Heartbeat International’s mission to provide the devices, equipment and expertise, and personnel to the populations we serve worldwide. We will do this by creating strategic alliances with all and any organizations willing to participate in this exciting and great challenge.

This vision represents three distinct stages for what is referred to as Heartbeat’s Global Cardiovascular Alliance. This vision is quite extraordinary and the key objective is to become a trusted and expert Global Resource with “boots on the ground” in providing these services.

Through programs of quality Education, Prevention and the Providing of life saving cardiovascular solutions, Heartbeat International has already taken the first strategic steps in fulfilling the next phase of its destiny through the forging of strategic industry relationships, alliances and partnerships.

This is where each and everyone of you, Our Supporters, are so vital to us for the fulfillment of the promise that such a vision would allow the saving of millions of lives, and affecting the well being of health of millions more. Quite simply, we are up to a monumental task, but one I know we are capable of achieving with the support from great people like you. What I can promise as Chairman & CEO of Heartbeat International Foundation is that our Global Movement to Save Lives has the momentum required to take its message around the world, and to expand the reach of what we do so one day we can proudly say…

“No one on this planet will ever die as a result of needing a life saving Pacemaker device and simply not being able to afford it”

This is our promise. This is why Heartbeat International exists.
I welcome you to be apart of the Heartbeat Global Movement and to help in any way you can to change the world, one heart at a time.

Sincerely,

Benedict S. Maniscalco, M.D.
Chairman & CEO
Heartbeat International Foundation, Inc.