Press Release/Incoming CEO Announcement
HARBORING HEARTS WELCOMES INCOMING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
New York, NY — Harboring Hearts Foundation welcomes Erin Taylor as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Erin brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience and a longstanding commitment to serving individuals and communities through mission-driven work.
Erin has held leadership positions in organizations across the nonprofit sector and through her consultancy led high-impact projects and growth initiatives for dozens of national and international organizations across the education, healthcare, arts and human services sectors.
As Executive Director of an international education nonprofit, Erin spearheaded a multimillion-dollar corporate/NGO collaboration to launch vocational training programs and sustainable school construction projects in Haiti. Throughout her career, she has also served as a senior fundraising executive, leading teams and overseeing all areas of development, including individual giving, major gifts, corporate and foundation support, and planned giving.
Erin holds a degree in Advertising Design from the State University of New York's Fashion Institute of Technology. She has also completed advanced studies in Nonprofit Management at New York University and Sustainable Business Strategy at Harvard Business School.
Her connection to Harboring Hearts is deeply personal. Erin’s son underwent heart surgery at the age of four—an experience that shaped her empathy and deepened her commitment to supporting patients and families through their cardiac or transplant journey.
A lifelong learner, Erin is currently studying French and botanical illustration. She is also an avid equestrian who enjoys traveling, reading historical fiction, and watching documentaries. Erin lives in New Jersey with her husband, son, and daughter and serves as a board member and Treasurer of One Million Fosters.
Pamela Kass Vynalek, outgoing Executive Director, shares, “Serving the community of Harboring Hearts has been one of the greatest honors of my career. Supporting fellow transplant and cardiac surgery families in honor of my father, Dave’s successful heart transplant, has been a deeply personal and humbling journey. The families Harboring Hearts reaches have left an everlasting mark on my own heart. Looking ahead, we are thrilled to welcome Erin Taylor into the fold. Her leadership, track record of success, and compassion will guide Harboring Hearts into its next chapter as we continue expanding our impact, offering hope, healing, and housing to those who need it most.”
As CEO, Erin will lead Harboring Hearts into its next chapter of growth, with a focus on expanding the organization’s reach and strengthening its support for heart and transplant patients and their families.
Michelle Javian, Harboring Hearts Founder and Board Member shares, “Since founding Harboring Hearts in 2009, we have had the privilege of supporting thousands of cardiac and transplant patients and their families through some of their most vulnerable moments. We are incredibly excited to welcome Erin Taylor to our team. Erin’s deep experience and passion for patient-centered care make her the ideal leader to build on our strong foundation. With her at the helm, Harboring Hearts is poised to expand its services, design new programs, and support even more families in need.”
"I am honored to join Harboring Hearts and to lead an organization whose mission resonates so deeply with me, both personally and professionally. Having experienced firsthand the challenges families face during a cardiac journey, I know the profound difference that compassion, community, and timely support can make. I look forward to building on the incredible work of this team, expanding our reach, and ensuring that every patient and family we serve feels seen, supported, and never alone." — Erin Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, Harboring Hearts Foundation
Since 2009, Harboring Hearts has helped more than 3,000 cardiac surgery and organ transplant patients & their families. Help us give hope to more hearts today!
HEARTFELT PROGRAMS
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, we can support patients and families undergoing cardiac surgery and organ transplant. We help alleviate the stress families face during challenging times, whether it's struggling to pay rent, afford groceries, or find housing (ex. hotel accommodations near hospitals when needed). In 2024, we provided assistance to 457 families in need across New York via the Emergency Fund, our largest program.
As an organization, the majority of the families we help are through our Emergency Fund and have a household income of under $60,000. In addition to emergency funding for patients and families, Harboring Hearts hosts numerous events throughout the year, helping connect patients and families and bring hope into their hearts. These events range from volunteering at our hospital partners to creating care packages for patients who are currently in hospitals to bring a smile to their face.
Learn more about our program pillars. Give Hope To Hearts!
From Left To Right: (Co-founder) Yuki Kotani & (Founder) Michelle Javian
ABOUT HARBORING HEARTS
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009 by Michelle Javian and Yuki Kotani, two daughters of heart transplant recipients, to provide cardiac surgery patients and their families with financial and emotional support providing critical resources like housing, food, and transportation. We currently partner with 9 partner hospitals: NYP/Columbia University Medical Center, NYP/Weill Cornell Medical Center, NYP/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, The Mount Sinai Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, Westchester Medical Center, NYU, Northwell/North Shore University Hospital, and Stony Brook University Hospital.
Learn more about our work and upcoming events at www.harboringhearts.org.
Media Contact: Nicole Zero, Development & Programs Associate
Email: info@harboringhearts.org
Phone: (866) 958-2536
