HeartRight Foundation was started in 1994 in honor of an intellectually disabled man named Joe who died unexpectedly and far too young due to a lack of community connections and valuable growth opportunities.  At that time, the Foundation’s mission was to provide those opportunities for connection and growth to people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) within their chosen communities. The mission of the HeartRight Foundation has evolved over time to better support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who receive services from Alta Regional Center and North Bay Regional Center, ensuring access to basic necessities that many of us often take for granted. In addition, the Foundation conducts outreach during times of crisis, including natural disasters, to provide emergency assistance and essential resources to those in need.

The HeartRight Foundation works to mitigate these challenges by providing financial assistance for essential needs, including household items, moving expenses, and accessibility modifications to existing housing. Additionally, the Foundation supports recreational and hobby enrichment opportunities, as well as medical and dental care assistance. Many medical device’s and equipment are not covered by MediCal including, but not limited to corrective footwear, hearing aids, adaptive communication tools, mobility aids, and speech devices.