About

Hands for Hearts, based in the Triad, is North Carolina’s leading non-profit organization in the support of children and families affected by congenital heart defects (CHD). Our annual Hands for Hearts Casino Night brings supporters, sponsors, and family members of those affected by congenital heart defects together for an amazing evening of food and drink, live casino action, and spectacular live and silent auctions. In addition to having community events and supporting CHD families here in the Triad, Hands for Hearts has created multiple CHD initiatives. In 2016 we established a CHD camp experience in partnership with Duke Children’s Hospital and Camp Victory Junction for local CHD children. To date, over 50 kids have attended the one-week camp experience. In 2018, we created and fully funded the prestigious 4th Year Matthew F. Sullivan Advanced Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at Duke Children’s Hospital. These amazing doctors get advanced training in the field of CHDs while serving the Triad out of Duke Children’s Specialty Services, located in Greensboro, NC.

Our 2020 Casino Night event was a tremendous success thanks to the overwhelming support of our community. With over 500 people in attendance, we were able to raise over $212,000!!! These funds will go directly towards several CHD related causes, including funding the most promising CHD related research in the country.

Hands for Hearts was founded in 2014 by Skotty Wannamaker, Jeff Fusaiotti, and Kathleen Little, in memory of Matthew (“Matt”) Francis Sullivan, who passed in January 2014. Matt had a passion for life which was unmatched and he had a tremendous love for his family, especially his nephew and niece. Matt’s nephew, Nicholas Larose, was born with a congenital heart defect. We intend to honor Matt’s life by making positive changes in the lives of children with CHDs and their families. Matt’s heart was legendary and as his sister, Nicole Sullivan LaRose once said, “Matt smiles from his heart.” We’re going to use that radiant smile of Matt’s to spread new smiles to children; smiles that will come from their healthy hearts.