HGF November 2024 Newsletter

HGF has been recognised by Gov Healey and Lt.Gov Driscoll for our work. We are grateful and encouraged.

Welcome to Our November Update!

As we wrap up a transformative year, we’re excited to share the latest updates from Heart of a Giant Foundation, our progress, and our plans for 2025. This year, with the support of our growing team and dedicated partners, we’ve made a tangible impact on our community’s health by expanding our reach and services to more high-risk populations through expanded health coaching, screenings, and educational initiatives. Thank you for standing with us – your support drives everything we do!

Members of HGF at the Boaston Community Heart Walk.

Key 2024 Achievements and Initiatives

Expanding Community Health Programs

Our health initiatives saw significant growth in 2024 as we expanded core offerings to serve high-risk populations:

Expanded Health Coaching Team: Our team grew to 15+ health professionals, enhancing our ability to provide individualized support.
Community Health Screenings & Education Events and Workshops: This year, we served over 1,000 individuals through 65 screenings, 9 workshops, and 6 educational events, raising awareness about heart health and preventive care.
Oral Health & Heart Health Sessions: We hosted over 30 sessions (during screening and education events) focusing on the critical link between oral hygiene and heart health, equipping participants with practical tips for maintaining both.
Partnering with Researchers: We have begun supporting essential research initiatives in Boston through partnerships with Community Servings, the BIDMC Nutrition Program, and MGH’s Pressure Check Program. These collaborations have enabled us to impact the community and contribute to essential health research significantly.
Hypertension Management Program: Launching in December 2024, this program will support expecting and post-partum mothers, as well as individuals managing hypertension and heart failure, with a focus on preventive and supportive care.

While we focused and deepened our activity in the Mattapan, Roxbury, Dorchester, and Brockton areas, increased awareness of our mission allowed us to expand our services to new neighborhoods in Greater Boston, including Cambridge or Bridgewater.

Key Events and Community Engagement

It’s been an exciting summer and fall, and we have so much to share.

Our team participated in the Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition (MFFC)'s 19th annual Mattapan Farmers Market at the corner of Cummins and Fairway streets, across from Burger King and America's Food Basket. The market ran for 15 weeks, from mid-July to the end of October, on Saturday mornings. Our health coaches provided services each weekend, braving the rains, sun, and the winds. We delivered over 375 health screening and education sessions to nearly 200 adults.

October is an exceptional month for our founder, Bouba Diemé, as his birthday falls on the 13th, and his heart transplant anniversary is on the 8th. This year, we were excited to celebrate our inaugural "Heart of a Giant Day" on Saturday, October 12th, marking a significant milestone for the foundation. The event featured the Inaugural Boston Community Heart Walk, health talks, screenings, music, and various family-friendly activities.
Follow this link to read more.

Families and friends came together for a day dedicated to connection and wellness. The event featured health screenings, educational talks, and a scenic walk to promote community health. Participants enjoyed activities such as bounce houses, healthy meals, and an award ceremony with raffle prizes, like fitness classes and a golf package. We received a citation from the Governor’s Office recognizing our community impact. With over 250 attendees, we are excited to make this an annual tradition. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of our first Heart Walk!

We sincerely thank the following companies for sponsoring our guest prizes and our 45 donors who raised over $13,000 to help make our event a success.

Looking Ahead to 2025

While we’ve celebrated many wins, limited financial resources, technology, and accessibility gaps hinder some community members from fully benefiting from our programs.

In 2025, we aim to:

Increase our team with additional part-time and full-time health coaches and administrative support.
Enhance financial management for long-term sustainability.
Boost donor engagement to secure more stable funding.

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for these impactful community events:

Healthy Brown Bag Lunch Hour – Weekly, February through May (Virtual)
Community Health Summit for Black Boston – June 2025
2nd Boston Community Heart Walk – October 11, 2025, along the Lower Neponset River
HGF Gala Evening – October 2025 (TBC)

Each event fosters community health awareness with screenings, education, and connecting opportunities.

Closing Notes

We are incredibly thankful for the continued support from our partners, including the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Lenny Zakim Fund, Boston Scientific, The Boston Foundation, Foley Hoag Foundation, the Adelard A. and Valeda Lea Roy Foundation, and other organizations, as well as many individuals like you. Your contributions have been instrumental in helping us achieve our goals, and we look forward to even more growth as we head toward the end of the year.

Thank you for being part of our journey. We are excited for 2025!

In health,

Somaneh Bouba Diemé

Founder & Director

Heart of a Giant Foundation

Ongoing Calls to Action

Be a part of Heart of a Giant Foundation’s mission to create healthier futures. Let’s make 2025 our most impactful year yet!
Whether you want to attend, donate, sponsor an event, volunteer, or join our Board of Directors, every form of support helps us continue our important work. Thank you for your engagement!
Share Our Mission and share about our work, events, and impact.
We are welcoming new Board members with diverse skills and networks (See Board Member Personas). If you're passionate about improving health outcomes in our communities and have experience in healthcare, non-profit management, finance, marketing, or community outreach, please contact us, refer, or nominate someone.