About Us

Hearten is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to person-to-person volunteering. Two RJ Reynolds High School students, Matt Valaoras and Ava Ginn, serve as co-presidents.

The organization is driven by high school students who serve the community in meaningful ways.

Service work and volunteering is expected of today’s students, but many opportunities to serve are strictly behind-the-scenes with little chance for the volunteers 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.

In the midst of a global pandemic, Hearten is still dedicated to finding ways to make a positive impact, even when we cannot be in close proximity to those we serve.