by Dana Costantino

Harboring Hearts is a nonprofit heart health organization based in Manhattan that assists and supports cardiac surgery and transplant patients and their families. Harboring Hearts, in partnership with nine hospitals in New York, Long Island and Westchester, provide emergency grants for food, housing and transportation, in addition to providing emotional support. Through grants and donations, Harboring Hearts helps hundreds of patients and their families every year who otherwise may not have been able to receive the help they need. 

Harboring Hearts offers yoga and meditation during heart patient and caregiver support groups held at area hospitals; other outreach efforts are aimed at education and healing. The organization has an active Junior Board and Board, and many board members are either personally affected or have family members with current or past heart issues. 

Harboring Hearts was founded by Yuki Kotani and Michelle Javian, who met while their fathers awaited heart transplants at NewYork-Presbyterian Columbia Medical Center. Harboring Hearts was born out of their conversations about what they believed patients and their families needed to support a heart patient’s healing journey. The mission is above all else meant to create community, healing in numbers and being there for each other as patients, caregivers, healers and medical professionals. The intent is to create “heart” health in not only the patients but those that take care of them, whether family or medical or holistic professionals. 

To learn more about Harboring Hearts, upcoming events and how to get involved or donate, visit HarboringHearts.org. 

Dana Costantino is Wellness Director for Natural Awakenings New York/Long Island. She can be reached at [email protected].