Congenital Heart Center
Mott Save a Heart Campaign
Congenital heart disease is the No. 1 birth defect in the U.S. and requires lifelong care. Help “Save A Heart” by contributing to research, clinical innovation, education and training, and support programs for congenital heart families.
Save A Heart
A graphic of a gold trophy with a blue heart with vertical stitching, suggesting surgery. To the right, blue text reads "Save a Heart." Below, gold text reads "Be a champion for the Little Victors."

The Need

Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect in the country, affecting about 1 in 110 babies and needing lifelong care. At the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, our Congenital Heart Center (CHC) is one of the top pediatric heart programs in the nation. Charitable support is critical for advancing research, developing new treatments, and providing the best care possible for families facing devastating heart conditions.

Creating New Hope for Children With Heart Conditions

Our efforts to improve outcomes and offer hope and healing for children with heart defects happens year round. But during the month of February, we put a special emphasis on raising awareness and funds through our Save A Heart campaign. Gifts made during this time will support our most critical needs, from funding important research to developing innovative therapies to providing family support services. 

National Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week occurs in February and promotes public education and understanding of heart defects. Save A Heart overlaps with these nationwide efforts and helps to rally public support to advance congenital heart care. Please join us in healing little hearts — your support is essential!
A group of five children wearing red t-shirts raise a gold trophy with a blue heart in the air. They are smiling and appear to be excited.

How You Can Help

There are a number of ways that you can make a difference during our Save A Heart campaign:
Donate

Make a Gift to the Mott Save A Heart Campaign

Sponsor

Become an Event Sponsor and Attend the Save a Heart Celebration

Buy Gear

Buy Limited Edition Save A Heart Gear

Fundraise

Create an Online Fundraiser

Host an In-Person Event

View our Community Fundraising Toolkit

Supersize Your Fundraising

The Atwood Family Foundation is generously matching gifts for all team fundraising through your page! Each gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000. Send your team fundraising links to your friends and family to participate in this opportunity! We are grateful for the impact fundraising teams make for Save A Heart, and want to make your wins even bigger.

Create a fundraiser
Spread the Word
Frequently Asked Questions

Funds raised through the Save A Heart campaign are critical because they make lifesaving and life-changing care possible for our Little Victors and their families. Your donation fuels critical research and programs for congenital heart families at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. 

By contributing to our Save A Heart campaign, you’re providing these families with the latest treatments, most groundbreaking technology, and the uplifting services and comfort that can help them during their most difficult times. You are giving kids with congenital heart disease the chance to live long, healthy, and happy lives. 

Here are examples of what donations can do:

  • $100 can purchase blood-pressure cuffs. A change in blood pressure is a serious issue for children with congenital heart disease. So we’d like to empower patients to take their own blood pressure as often as they like in addition to having it assessed in the hospital. 
  • $500 can purchase a backpack that’s loaded with a ventricular assist device that helps the heart pump blood. Children with weakened hearts or heart failure use this type of device while waiting for other treatments like a heart transplant. 
  • $1,000 can send a child home with wearable medical devices so they can be monitored around the clock through our “Hospital at Home” program. 
  • $2,500 can purchase a bedside ultrasound machine, which helps doctors rapidly diagnose problems so they can make quick decisions or perform ultrasound-guided procedures right then and there. 
  • $5,000 can purchase more virtual reality headsets. Patients and their families greatly benefit when they can see a virtual model of what’s going on in their heart and make sense of what the doctors are saying.
  • $10,000 can go toward funding a vital research project for one year. Doctors need to know the most effective way to support little hearts! 

Yes, checks should be made payable to: 
Regents of the University of Michigan 
(Memo line: Mott Save a Heart Campaign). 

Mail checks to:
Michigan Medicine Office of Development
777 E. Eisenhower Pkwy, Suite 650
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-3268

For sponsorship details, view our Save A Heart sponsorship packet. For more information or questions, contact Leah Zientek at [email protected] or 734-763-4907.

Use our matching gift tool.

Contact Leah Zientek at [email protected] or 734-763-4907.

UGP will offer a full refund or exchange within 30 days of purchase. Please ship item(s) to address below with the original packing slip and instructions regarding return or exchange. You can also email questions to us at [email protected] — please include your name and order number. 

Michigan Medicine Fundraising 
℅ Underground Printing
Attn: Returns/Exchanges
1476 Seaver Way 
Ypsilanti, MI 48197