About Us
The Larry King Cardiac Foundation (LKCF) was established in 1988 to provide funding for life-saving treatment for individuals who, due to limited means or no insurance, would otherwise be unable to receive the treatment and care they so desperately need. The Foundation works in conjunction with hospitals throughout the nation to ensure that such patients receive proper medical attention. Doctors performing these surgeries do so at no charge. Hospitals are compensated only for the materials used. Hearts are repaired. Families are given another chance. Lives are saved.
Who We Are
The Larry King Cardiac Foundation (The LKCF) was established in 1988 to provide funding for life-saving treatment for individuals who, due to limited means and no insurance, would otherwise be unable to receive the treatment and care they so desperately need. The Foundation works in conjunction with hospitals throughout the nation to ensure that such patients receive proper medical attention. Doctors performing these surgeries do so at no charge. Hospitals are compensated only for the materials used. Hearts are repaired. Families are given another chance. Lives are saved.
Our work has helped to save the lives of fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, and children from around the world. Stephen needed an emergency surgery to repair a tumor the size of a potato in his heart. Matthew, born with a hole in his heart, needed surgery to repair the hole. The LKCF provided the financial assistance to these patients and over 140 others, as well as funding for a cardiac care program for the low-income and uninsured in Los Angeles. This clinic serves over 200 patients per year.
The Larry King Cardiac Foundation has an ambitious goal to “Save a Heart a Day”. Our vital support network of physicians, hospitals, medical device companies and pharmaceutical companies has joined us in this landmark commitment to bring critical care to people who have simply run out of options. Save lives, healing families, strengthening communities, one patient at a time… a heart a day.
Our Organization's Mission
The mission of the Larry King Cardiac Foundation is to provide funding for life saving cardiac procedures for individuals who, due to limited means and no insurance, would be otherwise unable to receive life saving treatment.
Who We Serve
The Larry King Cardiac Foundation provides financial support for cardiac procedures. We work in conjunction with partner hospitals throughout the nation to help patients receive proper medical attention.
Our eligible patients must:
Be US citizens or have a legal right to be in the US (proof of passport, visa, green card, etc. required)
Not have financial resources to pay for the procedures themselves
Not have any insurance
Not qualify for any state or federal support (i.e., Medicare, Medicaid)
Be free of any criminal conviction
We pay for cardiac-related procedures that are:
Performed and approved by us in advance
Performed in one of our affiliate care centers with one of our doctors
We do not provide funding for:
Procedures at hospitals that are not in our network, or have not been approved by us
Procedures that are not cardiac-related, initial diagnostic tests
Heart transplants
Prior surgeries or previous medical expenses
Insurance co-payments
Travel or hotel expenses
Procedures must be completed at our partner care centers located in:
Los Angeles, CA
Washington, DC
New York City
Atlanta, GA
Cleveland, OH
Houston, TX
Funds are sent directly to the hospital for reimbursement, not to the individual.
All applicants are cautioned to rely on the advice of their own health care providers and not to delay seeking treatment while awaiting a funding determination from the Foundation.
If you or someone you know needs services provided by the Foundation, please use our Patient Application Form to submit your request.
Our Programs
We have 3 main programs:
1. Our mission to Save a Heart a Day
2. Across America with Larry King: Panel discussions on healthcare and cardiac health screenings
3. Larry King and Friends: Virtual web event which provides support to event parties that focus on helping others.
Upcoming Events
Larry King and Friends virtual website to support saving lives while people celebrate the lives of others.
larrykingandfriends.org
Leadership Profile
Larry King
Founder, Larry King Cardiac Foundation
Shawn Southwick-King
Chair, Larry King Cardiac Foundation
Larry King, Jr.
President, Larry King Cardiac Foundation
Board of Directors
Larry King
Founder
Shawn Southwick-King
Chair
Larry King, Jr.
President
Mark A Barondess, Esq.
Christensen, Miller, Fink, Jacobs,
Glaser, Weil & Shapiro, LLP
L. Marilyn Crawford
President
Primetime Omnimedia, Inc.
O. Wayne Isom, M.D.
Professor and Chairman
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Weill Cornell Medical Center
Richard Katz, M.D.
Chairman, Division of Cardiology
George Washington University Medical Center
Vice Admiral Albert Konetzni
USN (Ret)
William G. Margaritis
Corporate Vice President
Global Communications & Investor Relations
FedEx Corporation
Gary Pate
National Director and Co-founder
Starpower, Inc.
Norma C. Ramsey
Director of The Ramsey Foundation
Ronald G. Shaw
Chairman
Pilot Pen Corp. of America
Martin Zeiger, Esq.
Managing Member
Martin Zeiger, LLC
Board of Advisors
Medical Advisory Board
Board Chairman
Richard Katz, M.D.
Chairman, Division of Cardiology
George Washington University Med Center
Washington, DC
O. Wayne Isom, M.D.
Professor and Chairman
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
Cornell University Medical Center
New York, NY
Martin B. Leon, M.D.
Chairman, Cardiovascular Research Foundation
Professor of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University
New York, NY
Alan B. Lewis, M.D.
Division of Cardiology
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Gerard Martin, M.D.
Executive Director, Center for Heart & Kidney Disease
Chairman, Cardiology
Children’s National Medical Center
Washington, DC
P.K. Shah, M.D.
Chairman, Cardiology
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
Major Supporters and Sponsors
Edwards Lifesciences
St. Jude Medical Foundation
CNN
FedEx
Abbott
| Year Founded : |
1987 |
| 501(c)(3) Ruling Year : |
1987 |
| Full-Time Employees : |
3 |
What Sets Us Apart
We direct all program services at patient care. None of our funds go to supporting building, equipment or research. We help people now for issues that affect them today. We also partner with companies who are trying to stop heart disease altogether.
Objectives for This Fiscal Year
Continue on our mission to Save a Heart a Day. Screen and counsel over 6000 people.
Recent Accomplishments
In 2008, the Larry King cardiac foundation saved over 300 individuals. This is up from 145 in the prior year. We also screened, counseled and followed up on 4000 people.
