Michelle and her dad

Yuki and her dad

In 2008, Michelle Javian lost her father to heart disease. For two years while she was by her father’s side at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Michelle witnessed firsthand the lack of refuge and community support for heart patients and their families.

Around the same time, Yuki Kotani’s father was in the same hospital, under the same surgeon, awaiting a heart transplant after years of battling heart disease. Michelle approached Yuki with the idea to create a charity to help these families.

On April 10, 2009, the 1 year anniversary of Michelle’s father’s passing, Harboring Hearts received notice of their official 501(c)(3).