Teens with Heartsongs launched in 2020 during COVID19 to support Children's National Hospital's Family Housing Program and provide leadership opportunities for high school students. Over 700+ students from more than 40 DC Metro area high schools, both public and private, have participated in several education sessions, completed multiple team fundraisers and individual outreach, and together we have raised nearly $500,000! Email info@teenswithheartsongs.org for additional information.
"Heartsongs is the best organization I have worked with in terms of character building and skill development for high schoolers. The skills I developed in communication, leadership, collaboration, and project vision are skills that I will forever carry with me. It it my true belief that Heartsongs has had the most consequential impact on my high school career, and the admissions officers at [The University of] Michigan agreed when they called me to express the importance they saw in the commitment to public service that Heartsongs brings. I will be forever grateful for all that I have learned working with you. They explained that it was Heartsongs that drew them to my application. Heartsongs has the possibility to do for every student what it did for me - instill a commitment to public service."
Zain Ahmed, TWH Student Director 2021
"I just wanted to express all my infinite gratitude for this incredible program and the great leaders of it! Thank you so much for all your commitment and dedication to the cause of supporting all the families at Children’s National, and by putting fundraisers out there to support this group! It has been so wonderful to work in this marvelous program! I have learned about outreach and really expanded my horizons by reaching out to different people and the most wonderful thing was the fact that we helped so many families while doing so! The experiences from this year have been so invaluable. My favorite part of our meetings was learning about children and families who really benefited from the Heartsongs program."Antonella Foschi, 2023 Team Leader Centreville High School
"I can't express how important the housing program was to our family! My daughter spent 3 months at the Hospital and we had nowhere to stay being from out of town. The cost of a hotel would have been incredibly burdensome for us. Our family is so grateful to the Teens with Heartsongs program. We don't know what we would have done without you! Thank you!"
Grateful Children's Hospital Family
Teens with Heartsongs works in conjunction with The Heartsongs Fund which was established in 2001 as a tribute to Mattie J.T. Stepanek, a child poet, peacemaker, and an inspiration to us all. Mattie was a long-time patient of Children’s National before he lost his battle with a rare form of muscular dystrophy in June 2004. To honor Mattie, and the enormous efforts put forth by the family of doctors and nurses at Children’s, not just on Mattie’s behalf, but on behalf of the millions of children treated at the Hospital every year, The Heartsongs Fund was created to support the hospital’s housing initiative for patients and families. Since its inception, The Heartsongs Fund has raised well over $2,500,000.
Unity is strength…when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.
- Mattie Stepanek
Our Mission
Teens with Heartsongs is a leadership program for high school students that provides teens with important life skills, an introduction to philanthropy and building community, and of course the ability to know that they are making a difference in the hearts, minds and health of hundreds of children each year.
Our goal and mission are simple: build homes away from home for critically ill children to keep families together in times of crisis!
Our Vision
NO critically ill child is without their family in time of need!
Teens with Heartsongs is raising funds so that we can accommodate all patient families that will need housing – not just today but forever. We must raise $400,000 each year to support 300 families (about $1,333 per family).
Only hearts can build a home – and Heartsongs can fill them! Together we can build a Heartsongs home and guarantee that critically ill children can have their parents and families close by in their time of greatest need.