Hearten is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to person-to-person volunteering. Two RJ Reynolds High School students, James Edmundson and Ward Suttle serve as Co-Presidents.
The organization is driven by high school students who serve the community in meaningful ways.
Service work is expected of students, but many of the opportunities to volunteer are strictly behind the scenes, with little chance for the students to observe their impact. Hearten carefully selects projects to ensure the volunteer and the recipient make a connection. That way, we all win; our volunteers gain as much as those we serve.
Hearten was founded in 2018 by Isabelle Ginn and Allie Valaoras, and both served as Co-Presidents until 2020. Their siblings, Ava Ginn and Matt Valaoras, both of whom were among the founding group of volunteers, led the organization as Presidents from 2020-2022. All four remain involved on the Board of Directors.
