Our Mission
At Hearts for Tiny Lives, our mission is to support babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the families who care for them. We strive to bring comfort, encouragement, and practical support during a time that can be overwhelming and uncertain. Through donated supplies, care packages, and community partnerships, we aim to ensure that NICU families feel supported and reminded that they are not alone.
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Our Story
Hearts for Tiny Lives was inspired by a deeply personal experience. Founder Aira Lee was motivated to start the organization after her sister, Kate, was born at just 27 weeks, a very premature stage that required immediate care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Witnessing firsthand the emotional stress, uncertainty, and challenges that NICU families face opened Aira’s eyes to how important support and community can be during such a difficult time.
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During this experience, Aira saw how long days in the hospital, constant worry, and unexpected challenges can affect families with babies in the NICU. While doctors and nurses provide critical medical care, families often need additional emotional support and practical resources as they navigate this journey.
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Wanting to help other families going through similar experiences, Aira founded Hearts for Tiny Lives to provide comfort, essential supplies, and encouragement to NICU families. What started as a personal mission has grown into a community effort focused on bringing hope, compassion, and support to families when they need it most.
Meet the Founder
Aira Lee is the founder of the Hearts for Tiny Lives Foundation and is currently a senior at Palos Verdes High School. She is always looking for ways to make a meaningful difference in her community, and you can often find her volunteering at local hospitals and events, advocating for her peers, and exploring her passion for healthcare and research. Aira has always loved working with children, and inspired by her experienced with the NICU, she hopes to pursue a career in Neonatal Medicine in the future. She also loves playing the viola in her school orchestra, participating on her school’s varsity tennis team, and snowboarding with her family. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing her guitar, and watching 2000s rom-coms!
