Santo Carollo witnessed first hand what it’s like to have a child born with Congenital Heart Defects (CHD’s). It inspired him to figure out a way he could help fight this horrible birth defect.

After an extended family member was born with multiple CHD’s, he witnessed the stress it puts on the entire family. Not just the emotional stress, but also the financial stress as well.

In years past her birth, Santo started donating to the Children’s Heart Foundation of Florida for research. Even though he knew research was critical, he wanted to do more.

In 2008, Santo was introduced to Dr. Jeffery P. Jacobs because he also wanted to start his own foundation. And so it began. Next thing you know they set up a meeting, inviting Larry King Jr. to attend, and come up with a plan to create a foundation.

They came up with the Cardiac Kids Foundation of Florida that would help continue to fund research, help families locally, and help give children around the world the possibility of life by helping to fund mission trips.