OUR MISSION The Heart Foundation’s mission is to save lives by educating the public about heart disease, promoting early detection, and supporting the research being conducted at Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai under the direction of renowned cardiologist Dr. P.K. Shah in the quest to find more effective ways to prevent and treat the #1 cause of death in the U.S. OUR INSPIRATION On December 7, 1995, Steven Cohen came home from work, changed his clothes, kissed his wife and daughters (ages 2 and 5) and walked out the door to play his weekly basketball game with friends. During the basketball game this healthy-looking, 35-year-old man complained of not feeling well. He left the court, sat down and suffered a massive heart attack that took his life. Too often, the only sign of heart disease is sudden death. Steve exercised regularly, didn’t drink, didn’t smoke, wasn’t overweight and had just received a clean bill of health two months prior at his annual check-up. Steve died suddenly with no warning signs or symptoms. Driven to do something to honor Steve’s memory and save other families from suffering the tragic loss of a loved one to heart disease, Steve’s friends, family and community formed The Steven S. Cohen Heart Fund in 1996. In 2004, the name was changed to The Heart Foundation.