DALLAS, TEXAS, Jan. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mended Hearts, Inc. (MHI) is pleased to report the appointment of a new Advocacy Committee with eight volunteer heart patient and heart parent leaders. The committee will monitor advocacy issues and keep the Mended Hearts organization up-to-date on developments that affect cardiovascular patients of all ages. The Advocacy Committee will work with Mended Hearts and Mended Little Hearts volunteer leadership, staff and patient and caregiver members to define the organization's policy agenda.
Donnette Smith, president of MHI, appointed the following members to the Advocacy Committee: Larry Mantle, Mended Hearts co-chair of Wentzville, Missouri, Dana Hageman, Mended Little Hearts co-chair of Conway, Arkansas, Betsi DuPont of Scarborough, Maine; Larry Haffner of Belleville, Illinois, Millie Henn of Temple, Texas, Steve Perell of Nyack, New York, Carol Raimondi of Elmhurst, Illinois, and Cheryl Storey of Tupelo, Mississippi. "We are proud to have such strong grassroots volunteer leaders to help guide Mended Hearts in public policy issues," said Executive Director, Michele Packard-Milam.
The committee will work with elected and appointed officials and staff members in the White House, Congress, the Dept. of Health, National Institutes of Health, Center for Disease Control, as well as in key states and with key policy leaders to advocate for the determined policy agenda. The Committee will also maintain active and health connections with other key organizations and sponsors that are important to Mended Hearts and Mended Little Hearts advocacy agenda.
About Mended Hearts and Mended Little Hearts
Mended Hearts is the largest heart patient support network in the world, with 20,000 members and 300 chapters. Recognized for its role is facilitating a positive patient care experience, Mended Hearts and Mended Little Hearts partners with hospitals to offer support through visiting programs, support meetings and educational forums. Mended Hearts inspires hope and improves quality of life for heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support. Mended Little Hearts' mission is to empower families affected by congenital heart defects. For more information, or to local a chapter, visit www.mendedhearts.org, www.mendedlittlehearts.org, call 888-HEART-99, or email at info@mendedhearts.org.