• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

The Larry King Cardiac Foundation Achieves Record Life-Saving Pace With Help From New Friends and Partners

Posted on: Thursday, 14 May 2009, 14:47 CDT

Jackson Health Systems, 'party philanthropy' and a caring young girl aid the cause

WASHINGTON, May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Larry King Cardiac Foundation (LKCF), founded by internationally acclaimed talk show host Larry King, is exceeding its goal to Save a Heart a Day. Since January 1, 2009, 180 individuals worldwide have received life saving cardiac treatment from the Foundation and partner facilities.

LKCF treats many working class individuals, who have no access to the vital cardiac health care they need due to lack of insurance and limited funds. Partner hospitals around the country identify those in critical need of cardiac treatment, then Larry King personally calls each cardiac patient to offer them the treatment, which will be covered by the Foundation. During these difficult economic times, these calls are gifts of hope.

"It is the greatest thing I do. Now that we are ahead of schedule and saving more than a heart a day, I am able to make more calls. I take calls from all over the world for a living, but none are more important than the ones I make to let someone know there is hope and immediate treatment for them," said Larry King. "Undoubtedly, times are tough, and we still need support to keep moving full steam ahead."

Helping the Foundation in its efforts is 12-year-old Brooke from Florida, who recently launched an effort to raise money as a tribute to her grandmother who died from heart disease. Through sales of the Foundation's signature red bracelet, lemonade stand profits, and her request for donations in lieu of gifts for her upcoming party, Brooke has raised enough money to fund the surgery of a patient in South Florida at Jackson Health Systems, a new hospital partner.

At Jackson Memorial in Miami, Brooke will meet the patient she has helped save as LKCF announces its 13th hospital partner, Jackson Health System, an internationally recognized leader in preventative, diagnostic and interventional cardiology.

Jackson Health System will support patients in need of critical cardiac care with the help of physicians that graciously donate their time and medical device companies that donate products such as stents and defibrillators. The hospital is affiliated with the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and the Florida International University College of Medicine.

The Foundation's latest fundraising effort, "Party Philanthropy," works with individuals across the country to host individual parties in support of the Foundation in their own homes. Information on how to order a party box or bid on incomparable silent auction items can be found on www.larrykingandfriends.org. LKCF is also offering autographed copies of Larry's newest autobiography, My Remarkable Journey, debuting May 19 on www.lkcf.org.

About LKCF

In the first 132 days of 2009 LKCF has already saved 180 lives, currently surpassing its mission to Save a Heart a Day. LKCF provides funding for life-saving treatment for individuals who, due to limited means or no insurance, would otherwise be unable to receive vital cardiac treatment. The Foundation works in conjunction with major medical centers throughout the nation to ensure that such patients receive life-saving medical attention. For information about LKCF in its mission to Save a Heart a Day: www.lkcf.org.

SOURCE The Larry King Cardiac Foundation

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category