by April | Community, Team Building
The Blue Heart Foundation in partnership with the Old Globe Theater provided a night out for the youth and families from the HEART mentoring program. HEART (Higher Education And Rising Together) is a locally based mentoring program that is focused on the empowerment and education of under-served youth. Our program is based on nine (9) core competencies which fall under three categories: 1) Abilities, 2) Applications, and 3) Character.
One piece of our program is to expose youth to events they may not normally have the opportunity to see and in the instance we viewed the Tony Award winning play “The White Snake”. The White Snake is a visionary staging of a classic Chinese fable, a gentle serpent transforms into a beautiful woman. She falls in love with a dashing young man and decides to stay human forever, until a wicked monk discovers her true identity and vows to destroy her. The play was amazing and left everyone with huge smiles afterward… I was thrilled that each and every young man had a great time. The White Snake was a bit different than what we’re used to but isn’t life about going outside of the box? Isaiah Coleman (HEART Participant) stated “The actors were so involved; they developed the characters and drew us in. I could tell they worked hard and I definitely enjoyed the show.”
We believe culturally enriching field trips matter. They produce significant benefits for students on a variety of educational outcomes that schools and communities care about. The effects of field trips to see live theater demonstrates that seeing plays is an effective way to teach academic content; increases our youth’s tolerance by providing exposure to a broader, more diverse world; and improves the ability of students to recognize what other people are thinking or feeling. These are significant benefits for students on specific educational outcomes that schools pursue and communities respect. Especially when considered alongside our community service efforts. Not all learning occurs most effectively within the walls of a school building. Going on enriching field trips to cultural institutions makes effective use of all of a community’s resources for teaching children. We even got photo bombed by Ben Vereen!!!
Lastly, you can never know what may impact a child’s life. As Demetria Hill (Parent) exclaimed “My sons, Damontae and Demeiko really enjoyed their experience at the Old Globe Theatre, watching the play White Snake. They came home excited to tell me about what they learned about performing arts and asian culture; they really enjoyed themselves. As a parent, allowing your children to experience opportunities which they might not have normally been exposed to is invaluable. A big “thank you” to The Blue Heart Foundation and Old Globe Theater for allowing young people the opportunity to explore San Diego’s rich history in theater and the performing arts.”
by April | Community
Our Annual Christmas Awards breakfast took place Saturday Dec. 6th, 2014 at the Mission Valley Sheraton with the goal to celebrate this holiday season by honoring those that serve our community and bringing educational awareness to San Diego’s foster and underprivileged youth during a festive Christmas celebration.
For the past eight years it has been our opportunity to give and receive the gift of service. We invite youth and families of San Diego to partake in a morning of joy, gift giving and celebration. This year we have grown larger than ever inviting nearly 100 children and providing them with gift certificates and age appropriate gifts during this celebratory breakfast. These children and teenagers come from a variety of programs which include San Diego Adoptions, VIP Mentors, “Just in Time for Foster Youth” along with 
children from local foster and area group homes
This year’s Keynote Speaker was Devin Hughes.(The Chief Inspiration Officer) with Community Activist of the Year Awards going to Tinesia Conwright (DETOUR Empowers), Adam Rajah Gainey (Promises 2 Kids), Dion Sayles McKinney (Community Activist) and Leonard Thompson MANDATE records) all of which have directly impacted young people’s lives on a regular basis.
We also honored educational administrators Dr. Aaron Bruce and Marne Foster both of which have greatly impacted our student’s lives at both grade school and collegiate levels. Finally, sticking with our theme of education we will honored our shining star Andreia Dooley (Garrett) and Natasha Dunham as our inspirational collegiate for overcoming monumental obstacles to graduate from college along with awards for children from both the Heartbeat Music Academy and the H.E.A.R.T (Higher Education And Rising Together) mentoring program.
This was a wonderful Christmas event benefiting San Diego’s Foster and underserved youth and encouraging them to attend and complete college
by April | Community, Volunteerism
HEART doing our monthly community service and helping less fortunate families at the Season of Love -Block Party
Thousands of people turned out for the community block party hosted by New Seasons Church in Spring Valley Saturday.
The church partnered with “Feeding America San Diego”, Boar’s Head, Walmart, and Ralph’s to feed thousands of people during the “Seasons of Love” Thanksgiving event.
Those who attended the block party got to take home a free Thanksgiving meal, along with clothes, shoes, and baby gear.
“The church is suppose to help those in need. We want to be the example of the church giving back to the community. We shouldn’t always take from the community, we should give back to the community,” Dr. A.B. Vines, senior pastor of the New Seasons Church said.
Always looking for opportunities to serve our community our young men believe that giving back is the root of success and makes you understand just how lucky you are.
by April | Community, Team Building
Watching the San Diego State State Aztecs dominate NAU 38-7 after tailgating was a perfect way to start off the 2014-2015 school year. The young men participating in the H.E.A.R.T. mentoring program were truly in for a treat on this beautiful Saturday afternoon. The victory in front of an announced crowd of 30,761 at Qualcomm Stadium showed flashes of how good the team could become.
The same could be said of the young men of H.E.A.R.T. of which 10 young men with unlimited potential will come together and devote themselves towards aspirations of a higher education. Many of these young men could “fall through the cracks” due to lack of resources and/or opportunities afforded in the public education system. What we address are the other needs that young men need to make better decisions, learn to be goal oriented as well as focus on character development.
This is an exciting time in these young men’s lives and we are looking forward to watching and tracking the growth of these ten young men as they work to achieve success together. Be sure to watch their growth and cheer them on as they strive to reach their potential and beyond.
by April | Community, Team Building
H.E.A.R.T. had the opportunity to visit the Musuem of Tolerance in Los Angeles, CA. During this event there are many things that occurred that benefited the youth, the quality time shared with each other, the opportunity to see something they had not experienced before, the opportunity to meet one of the holocaust survivors (William Shaffer); the sit down lunch at Roscoe’s, and of of course, the anaconda finale.
The Museum of Tolerance (MOT) is the educational arm of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an internationally renowned Jewish human rights organization. The only 
museum of its kind in the world, the MOT is dedicated to challenging visitors to understand the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts and confront all forms of prejudice and discrimination in our world today.
Established in 1993, the MOT has welcomed over five million visitors, mostly middle and high school students. Visitors become witnesses to history and explore the dynamics of bigotry and discrimination that are still embedded in society today. Through interactive exhibits, special events, and customized programs for youths and adults, the Museum engages visitors’ hearts and minds, while challenging them to assume personal responsibility for positive change.
Perhaps no other institution offers such a motivational mix of historical discovery and personal empowerment. I believe these children’s lives were changed and can only have a positive impact going forward. Let’s work to be sure they have the opportunity to grow uninhibited. After all doesn’t every child deserve a childhood. 
by April | Community, Team Building
August 2nd, 2014 – We are proud to have attended and support Tamera Hill’s Play “I Never Heard my Father Speak,”. Everyday, thousands of children across America never hear the voice of their father. The children of our generation and past generations are yearning to hear their father speak. This play not only brings awareness, but depicts a powerful story of a common family dynamic we are all too familiar with, a fatherless home! “I Never Heard my Father Speak,” is not just a powerful story about putting families back together but it’s about healing and restoration for those who have never heard the voice of a father. We have to bring awareness to this epidemic. Yes, epidemic!
One of the most profound social problems is the widespread father absence in the lives of children. Fathers play a unique and irreplaceable role in the lives of their children. Father absence is a serious problem because 
of the profound life challenges many children experience, who grow up without a father in their lives. Studies have shown the consequences of absentee fathers on children are: living in poverty, greater risk of drug use, early teen pregnancy, educational problems, health problems, emotional and mental health problems, and being victims of child abuse. Our prisons are full of individuals who grew up without a father.
As Tamera proceeds to make this powerful play into a movie that will help America see and experience first hand the the damaging results of fatherless homes, and the affects it can have on our children. “I Never Heard my Father Speak,” will tell the story from a father, child and mother’s viewpoint. We will see the story through their eyes. This is not just a story, but a movement to put father’s back into the lives of their children. Help us make that a reality and donate today at GOFUNDME
One piece of our program is to expose youth to events they may not normally have the opportunity to see and in the instance we viewed the Tony Award winning play “The White Snake”. The White Snake is a visionary staging of a classic Chinese fable, a gentle serpent transforms into a beautiful woman. She falls in love with a dashing young man and decides to stay human forever, until a wicked monk discovers her true identity and vows to destroy her. The play was amazing and left everyone with huge smiles afterward… I was thrilled that each and every young man had a great time. The White Snake was a bit different than what we’re used to but isn’t life about going outside of the box? Isaiah Coleman (HEART Participant) stated “The actors were so involved; they developed the characters and drew us in. I could tell they worked hard and I definitely enjoyed the show.”
