Kelley McClellan, executive director of the Children’s Heart Foundation, poses in “Maggie’s Garden” in the foundation offices Friday Nov. 30, 2018. With McClellan are Benson Favero, left, 4, and Avie Famularo, 2. The foundation provides emotional, educational, and financial support to children with heart conditions.
Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 | 2 a.m.
What does your organization do? Children’s Heart Foundation is committed to making a difference in the lives of families who have children with heart conditions, offering emotional, educational and financial support to encourage a higher quality of life for all.
Kelley McClellan, Children’s Heart Foundation
• Title: Executive Director
• Agency address: 3006 S. Maryland Parkway Suite 690, Las Vegas, NV 89109
• Agency phone number: 702-967-3522
• Agency website: chfn.org
• Hours of operation: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
When and why was it established? Established in November 2001, the foundation has four main goals:
• To provide a cost-free, medically supervised camp experience for children with heart conditions
• To educate health care professionals and the general public on pediatric cardiology issues
• To lend support to families as they deal with the emotional and financial toll exacted by a child’s heart condition
• To support research efforts in the field of pediatric cardiology
Who are its clients today? Children’s Heart Foundation serves babies prenatally to adulthood, if they’re in the care of a Nevada Pediatric Cardiologist.
What are its current initiatives or goals? We have 10 programs serving children and families. We provide financial assistance for food, gas, rent, utilities, support groups and family events; the only camp in Nevada for children with heart conditions; research funding; college scholarships; food and sundries for hospital stays; toys for children; prescription assistance; holiday assistance; travel assistance for surgeries; and funeral assistance.
What services might the community not know about? Our scholarship program, support groups and research funding.
What sparked your interest in the nonprofit sector? I have always dreamed of being the executive director for a children’s nonprofit. This is honestly the dream job I thought I wouldn’t achieve until much later in life.
What is the greatest success you’ve been a part of? Ensuring the children in our community living with a heart condition receive the emotional and financial support their families need during hospital stays or times where one parent has to quit working to care for their child.
What can people do to get involved in the cause you serve? Visit chfn.org, look at our programs, see what you want to be involved with, and send us an email.
What can Southern Nevadans do to improve our community in general? Get involved. Look for organizations doing work in areas that you are concerned about and reach out.
Whom do you admire? There are so many incredible people in our community, it’s impossible to pick one. I truly look up to Tyler Corder, Simon Keith and Kari Tillman. They are only a few of the many people I am blessed to know, working tirelessly in our community for those who need help.
Where do you see your organization in five years? We have grown so much the past few years, and I see that growth in service continuing. I am looking to expand our reach to even more children living with a critical heart condition to give them hope and comfort during the challenges they face.
Anything else you want to tell us? I am sincerely grateful to Findlay Auto Group for all it does to bring awareness, funding and support to all the organizations in our community.
This story originally appeared in the Las Vegas Weekly.
