 A heartfelt
letter of thanks to Penny Mathieu, RN, from Deanna Lanigan, a student at St.
Therese Elementary School, Deephaven,
MN |
The HiTECH Heart(tm) program began in Spring 1997, when the Minneapolis Heart
Institute Foundation (MHIF) entered into a partnership with the Medtronic
Foundation and the Science Museum of Minnesota to develop a functioning,
interactive model of the human heart for MHIF's statewide school-based education
programming. The model, known as the HiTECH Heart, is a dynamic model designed
to provide an interactive learning experience for 4th grade students related to
the heart, how it works and how to take care of it.
During its first two years, requests for the HiTECH Heart program surpassed
our expectations. Calls for the HiTECH Heart were coming in from elementary
schools around the state almost daily. In Spring 2000, the HiTECH Heart
partnership expanded to include Great River Energy. Their generous contribution
to the HiTECH Heart program provided the resources necessary for a much needed
second portable heart model and a van dedicated exclusively for the
transportation of the HiTECH Heart to elementary schools throughout Minnesota.
Shown in the far left photo on page 6 are Ford Watson Bell, DVM, MHIF president,
being presented with a check for $28,000 by David Saggau, Great River Energy,
vice president and general counsel.
Penny
Mathieu, RN, sharing important information on how to keep your heart healthy
with the students at Henning Elementary School, Henning MN. 
