CHARLOTTE
“We LOVE hearts around here,” a cardiac nurse said as she reached for a warm Heart-Shaped Bo-Berry Biscuit, "and this is the best treat ever!”
On Valentine’s Day morning, as nurses and doctors shuffled into The HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Clinic in Charlotte, decked out in red sweaters, pink headbands and hearts on their scrubs, Bojangles’ beloved Heart-Shaped Bo-Berry Biscuits were waiting for them to enjoy. The clinic hosts Charlotte’s sole pediatric heart surgery program and houses the only pediatric cardiovascular intensive care unit in the region. Annually, it aids more than 20,000 patients (wow!) with congenital heart conditions, diligently working to improve interstage mortality rates, extend life expectancy and contribute to the long-term prognosis of children diagnosed with congenital heart disease.
The idea for the clinic originated in 2012 when star Panthers tight end Greg Olsen learned that his son TJ would be born with a severe congenital heart defect known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Olsen and his wife Kara committed to giving TJ the best chance at life, providing him with access to the best doctors, treatment and technology at Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s Hospital. TJ underwent his first surgery at just a few days old and underwent two more over the next few years. The Olsens saw a need for in-home nursing care to ensure TJ stayed healthy, so they launched Receptions for Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation with the Atrium Health Foundation, establishing the HEARTest Yard Fund, a family service program dedicated to helping families ease the transition from hospital to home care. The cardiac neurodevelopmental clinic first welcomed patients in 2017, and the HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Center followed in 2019.
Today, patients continue to benefit greatly from philanthropic gifts made to the HEARTest Yard, alleviating the costs for parents of sick children and empowering them to keep their focus on their child’s well-being. These contributions not only help cover medical expenses but also enable families to maintain their emotional strength and stability, providing a sense of security as they prepare for each critical stage of surgery.
And on Valentine’s Day, Bojangles was proud to spread some love to people who make it all possible – the brave staff at the Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital – and what better way to do that than deliver Heart-Shaped Bo-Berry Biscuits on a day centered around hearts and love?
To make a donation to The HEARTest Yard, click here.
MYRTLE BEACH
Meanwhile, our friends in Myrtle Beach are also leaning into the heart-shaped treat to spread kindness (and raise money!) for heart patients at the Conway Medical Center Foundation.
To honor National Heart Month (February) and celebrate our beloved heart-shaped biscuits, Myrtle Beach-area Bojangles’ - through franchisee Bo Flavor – will donate a portion of the proceeds from the Heart-Shaped Bo-Berry Biscuits to help fund heart care services in our community.
“Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Therefore, the need to support local heart care services is incredibly crucial. Our partnership with CMC Foundation allows us to give back to the community while promoting heart health awareness,” said Mark Kiskunas, Owner of Bo Flavor Bojangles. Customers who purchase our specially-made Heart-Shaped Bo-Berry Biscuits throughout the month of February will be directly contributing to this cause, so if you’re in the area, enjoy a treat and save a life!