American Heart Association Launches 2017 Little Hats, Big Hearts Campaign

The American Heart Association (www.heart.org/littlehatsbighearts/) is seeking handmade red hats, crocheted or knit, to provide to Nebraska newborns born during the next American Heart Month (February 2017), as a part of the national Little Hats, Big Hearts™ project, which is coming to Nebraska for the second time this winter. With Little Hats, Big Hearts, the American Heart Association is raising awareness about cardiovascular diseases, the No. 1 killer in the United States, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country, occurring in one of 100 babies.

Hats will be given to each baby born in February at participating hospitals across the state. Hospitals in the area that have already confirmed their participation in this program include Bryan Health (Lincoln), CHI Health Bergan Mercy (Omaha), CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center (Omaha), CHI Health Immanuel (Omaha), CHI Health Lakeside (Omaha), CHI Health Mercy (Council Bluffs), CHI Health St. Elizabeth (Lincoln), CHI Health St. Mary’s (Nebraska City), Children’s Hospital and Medical Center (Omaha), Memorial Community Health (Aurora), Nebraska Medicine (Bellevue and Omaha). Additional Nebraska hospitals are participating and more will be confirmed and announced throughout the fall.

The American Heart Association is working with both the mother-baby units and Neonatal Intensive Care Units in hospitals so donations of red hats in both premature and newborn sizes are needed. Because bows and buttons may be a danger to newborn babies, only red hats without decorations can be accepted for Little Hats, Big Hearts. Donations of red yarn to help those who will be knitting or crocheting hats are also being accepted. Yarn must be cotton or acrylic, medium to heavy weight and machine washable and dryable.

All mailed-in donations must be received at the American Heart Association’s Greater Nebraska Regional Office in Lincoln (1540 S. 70th Street, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68506) no later than Jan. 13. In-person donations can be made during regular business hours at the offices in Lincoln and Omaha (9900 Nicholas Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68114) or the Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores located in Bellevue, Lincoln and Omaha.

Visit www.heart.org/littlehatsbighearts/ for more information. For additional information on American Heart Association events statewide, please contact Jamie Schneider at 402-810-6851, (402) 915-0955 or Jamie.Schneider@heart.org.

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