Heart N Hands, Inc.

Heart N Hands exists to educate and empower girls ages 10–18 about heart health and heart disease prevention.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States — yet prevention begins long before adulthood. Many risk factors, including poor nutrition, inactivity, stress, and lifestyle habits, develop early in life. By reaching girls during their formative years, we equip them with the knowledge and confidence to make heart-healthy choices that can reduce long-term risk and improve overall well-being.

Our mission is simple but powerful: increase awareness, expand education, and inspire lifelong heart-healthy behaviors in young girls throughout our community.

Through engaging, hands-on programming, Heart N Hands teaches:

• Cardiovascular and stroke awareness

• Healthy eating and nutrition fundamentals

• The importance of physical activity and movement

• Preventative lifestyle habits

• Confidence in making informed health decisions

Our sessions are interactive and accessible — incorporating fitness activities such as Zumba and dance, cooking demonstrations, discussions about heart health and stroke prevention, and practical strategies girls can apply immediately in their daily lives.

Heart N Hands partners with organizations including Girl Scouts Louisiana East, Girls on the Run NOLA 5K, and Links New Orleans Chapters to expand our reach and deepen our community impact. By collaborating with trusted youth-serving organizations, we ensure that heart health education is delivered in environments where girls already feel safe, supported, and empowered.

Our work is about more than awareness. It is about prevention, early intervention, and breaking cycles of premature disease, disability, and loss.

When a girl understands her heart health, she gains agency.

When she shares that knowledge with her family, entire households benefit.

When communities prioritize prevention, futures change.

Your GiveNOLA Day support directly funds educational materials, program facilitation, outreach efforts, and access for girls who may not otherwise receive this life-saving education.

Together, we can build a generation of informed, confident young women who understand that their health is power — and that protecting their hearts today shapes stronger communities tomorrow.

Testimonials

"Turning my heart story into a success story is the way to inform others about cardiovascular disease and the impact it has on our community as a whole. I want to share my story and message with as many women and girls as possible to create stronger communities." -Essence Harris Banks, CEO & Founder

"Heart N Hands has the potential to be a major positive influence on the future women of NOLA, as our adolescent girls are empowered with awareness and tips for prevention of time sensitive killers - heart disease and stroke. The cycle of premature disease, disability, and death can be broken" said Sheryl Martin-Schild, MD, PhD, FANA, FAHA, Heart N Hands Board Member and Director of the Stroke Program