As a General Contractor, I have worked on numerous projects with HOAF over the past several years and it has a been a pleasure to work with them! I have found their team members easy to communicate with and they are always willing to work with me to work through challenges faced during the course of construction. It's an additional benefit to know that the projects I work on them with are for the general betterment of the communities. I look forward to working with HOAF again :)
Collins had the opportunity to work with Heart of America as a trade partner to work on some projects for a local public school district They were very professional and planned the projects well with the District and Departments within the school to make sure HoA's project work efficiently within the schools.
We've partnered with Heart of America on several projects over the last few years to help serve local schools throughout the Southern California region and our experience has been nothing short of amazing. As with any project, a unique set of challenges often arise, but the HOA team has and always been responsive, communicative, professional, fun, friendly, caring, and quite honestly one of the easiest teams to work with in the construction industry. Truth be told, this team deserves to be recognized for their continued dedication towards excellence, their craft, and commitment towards serving local communities. They put a tremendous amount of time and focus on each project and our partnership would not be the success it is without each and every member we have had the pleasure to work with. HOA and the entire team of individuals, Sanz Construction and I would like to extend our gratitude to you all for your amazing partnership and friendship. Cheers to you all for your hard work, keep it up because it does not go unnoticed!
-Gabriel Sanchez, Project Manager
Sanz Construction
For more than a decade, Paragon Furniture, Inc. has had the pleasure of partnering with the Heart of America Foundation. The positive impact on school communities through thoughtful programming, design and furnishing/equipping educational spaces is evident and lasting. Heart of America's efforts create the conditions for greater capacity for learning and sparks inspiration for teachers and students.
I've had the privilege to work with Heart of America for several years on a number of wonderful projects and can say this group truly lives by their commitment to showing up each day and giving personal excellent in how they approach each project with excitement, flexibility, positivity, and live up to the mission to provide opportunities for the youth of our country to create opportunities to learn, grow, and inspire the future leaders! It's just wonderful to be apart of that effort and hope to continue doing work with their organization for years to come, highly highly recommend!
Heart of America is addressing a need that’s not met by transforming learning space and bridging the resource gap, so that every student finds a beautiful space to learn, discover and thrive.
I have been fortunate to work alongside HOA transforming Gordon Park High School. There no greater feeling than the feeling you have when you see the impact the work has on students. They do so much with so little.
We have worked with Heart of America for the better part of 15 years now - from an agency perspective and as a contractor. Their project management team is consistently on top of all activities, easy to reach, great communicators and always have the end goal in mind - helping the kids. Not all nonprofits can attest to those qualities. We've always felt that they give the donors great value and impact for what are always limited funds.
And with all that being said, we believe in their foundation enough to donate to Heart of America - however and whenever we can.
Alex Farrell has been a joy to work with. It is very clear that he is working in the best interest of
Heart of America. I have personally completed 4 projects with Alex over the last two years as a project manager with GCON Inc. (general contractor).
“Wow!” This one-word, “wow,” explains it all in a nutshell for the North Chicago Public Library community to the amazing partnership with Heart of America Foundation. The leadership team at Heart of America Foundation was unbelievable and professional on every level at my library. Heart of America Foundation was a dream come true and an answer to prayer that transformed our learning environment to a vibrant community space that welcomes all! Thank you, Heart of America Foundation, for your ongoing partnership and support!! The best is yet to come!! ~JB
Has been an awesome experience working with the Heart of America on the labs that give access to the future of technology for youth and transform spaces!
Heart of America was able to bring engaged community members together to really make a difference to the environment that our students are able to learn and thrive in. When students see that local industry members have invested in them, it makes all the difference.
With a great mission and a professional, dedicated staff, Heart of America has been an outstanding partner!
Heart of America is comprised of individuals who will go above and beyond, both for their organization and the communities they serve. Organized, enthusiastic, and always a step ahead - working with their incredible team has helped to extend our organization's impact seamlessly.
We partner with HOA to provide power to indigenous communities throughout the southwestern United States. Not only has this partnership increased our ability to reach families in need, Heart of America's dedication to the cause has allowed us to scale our employee involvement in projects. They work tirelessly with local school districts to identify families, create installation schedules, engage in community outreach, plan and execute the trips, and follow up with families to ensure their ultimate success. Above all, the genuine care of Heart of America's team and their resounding positivity shine through.
Goal Zero is proud to partner with Heart of America in support of their work and commitment to the communities they serve.
When the world shut down because of a mysterious virus in March 2020, our schools were also shut down, leaving the students clueless about what was happening and what would happen after a long two years of no in-person school for our students. We were left with teaching online and schools purchasing WIFI hotspots so the students could join their classes online. But, this was not easy for the students because of the poor cell services, internet, and no electricity. Schools provide all the electronic gadgets and paper assignments but do not realize that many students do not have electricity to charge their laptops or hotspots nor have electricity for light to work on paper assignments. This was a bit stressful for everyone. But, there was a non-profit organization that we have partnered up with. Little did we know what was in store for us.
We have been in contact with some fantastic and caring people from Heart of America, and all volunteers who were a blessing to the school for our students who did not have electricity. They have considered our students and allowed them to complete paper homework and attend their online classes because they could charge their hotspots and laptops. Some students do not have phone service in their area, but with a charged laptop and hotspot, they could drive to a local chapter house or a nearby laundry mat or be driven to the nearest McDonald's for free WIFI, which would be about an hour or two of driving and do some online assignments. They have powered up about 30 homes within our school district. We are very thankful for their hard work and their dedication to their vision.
HOA has also transformed two rooms into one big STEAM lab along with other organizations, they have opened the doors for our students' minds and allowed them to explore their curiosity and have the students see what they are capable of. We have some future scientists, engineers, and artists. The use of technology is just not phone internet, but using technology at another level. Seeing another part of the world without actually leaving from here. The students enjoy the STEAM lab very much. Learning is never boring in the STEAM lab.
The parent center had a major makeover in the lobby area with calming colors on the wall and a very comfortable lounge chair, which I am very proud of. The books that were provided for the center are all native authors and related to their culture as well. A reading nook area was added to the parent center, so the little ones have a place to read a book, while the parents are in attendance at a workshop or meeting. The office space looks so professional. Amazing Job!
HOA and their team are incredibly amazing and the work and their heart are truly a blessing.
Truly grateful.
We love to see our friends from Heart of America each time they show up and do the good work of creating space for students, parents, teachers. We live in an extremely impoverished area-the Navajo Nation-and seeing these teams of students and other volunteers show up month after month and year after year to help students and their schools succeed is one of great examples of true care and compassion-combined with the know-how to partner with the other committed partners in improving educational and social opportunities in our regional schools.
We could not be more proud to support their work and commitment.
We have partnered with Heart of America for five years at educational sites across the country. They have helped us in realizing the vision of administrators at our long-standing partner school in Chicago, as well as in identifying new schools that were open to collaborating. Heart of America has allowed us to scale our employee engagement, while being responsive to the needs of respective schools in creating spaces that affirm the dignity of students. They have consistently delivered quality projects, even innovating during the Covid-19 pandemic with a take-home paint-by-number tile mural that beautifully fills a stairwell at a school to this day. We are very thankful to have Heart of America as a partner and a resource!
In efforts to service our local community, my company, Modern Living Solutions by Greystar, had the pleasure of partnering with the Heart of America Foundation. My colleagues and I spent the day at Lakeland EMS in Baltimore, renovating their cafeteria space. Allie, Deria, John from the HOA team made sure my team was equipped with what we needed to successfully complete our tasks. Above all, they greeted us with a smile, enthusiasm, and genuine gratitude. It was a great day, and one that my team will not forget. We look forward to our developing our partnership further with HOA!
We know that the space in which we learn and connect is critical to the learning experience. After parents and teachers, the physical environment is often considered a child’s “third teacher.” But the reality is that education resources and vibrant learning spaces aren’t accessible to all students. That is why HOA's work is so critical. Since 1997, HOA has served nearly two million students, transformed over 800 educational spaces, provided 4 million library and take-home books, and implemented vital technology valued at over $7.5 million. And these numbers only continue to rise. In the past 7 years, HOA's work has grown to a new level working across the learning continuum – the classroom, home, and community-– all essential elements of a quality education. HOA unites volunteers, government entities, corporate partners, community leaders, schools, families and more - all working together to bridge the divide. Whether it is a soothing peace and wellness room that allows students to be safe and decompress or a book written in a child’s native language, HOA is doing important work towards the vision that every student deserves an inspiring space - equipped with the right resources - to learn, discover, and thrive.
Our school connected with Heart of America in the fall of 2022, and they connected us with an outstanding organization that was establishing a new presence in the area and looking to partner with schools. From the earliest planning stages through the run of show day and on to additional future projects, Heart of America staff have been so professional, positive, and collaborative at every turn. We co-developed a vision for our school-community partnership, and the resources that Heart of America and Horizon have poured into our school have already made a significant impact on staff and students.
Community partnerships are so important for schools trying to bring resources and opportunities to kids and families that cannot always access them independently. This work is not easy, especially for school administrators balancing all of their other leadership work with support for community partnerships.
Heart of America is authentic, they are dependable, they are professional, and they are easy to work with! They really understand schools, not just the kinds of resources that make a difference for kids, but also the adult work that goes on in school buildings every day. We really feel we could not have found a better partner, and I would (and do) encourage any school leaders interested in expanding or augmenting their current community partnerships to reach out to Heart of America and have a conversation.
Barefoot Books has long been a supporter of Heart of America Foundation's mission to increase educational access to children in underserved communities by creating beautiful spaces (and they are beautiful!) and filling them with quality materials. As a children's book publisher, it has always been a goal of Barefoot's to assure all children have access to inspiring books. We are proud to be able to partner with Heart of America Foundation to achieve this goal, and grateful for the meaningful work they have been doing for over 25 years. Here's to another 25!
--Sarah O'Neill, Director, Educational & Special Markets, Barefoot Books.