About The Heart Foundation

"In just seconds, my best friend Steve became one of 250,000 Americans who die each year of Sudden Cardiac Death. Out of this tragedy The Heart Foundation was born."

Mark Litman
Chairman, Founder
The Heart Foundation

Steve Cohen and his daughters Ashton (L) and Lindsay (R).

Our Inspiration

On December 7, 1995, Steve Cohen came home from work, changed his clothes, kissed his wife and children, and walked out the door to play his weekly basketball game with friends. Neither Steve, nor his wife Eva, could know what would follow. 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 coronary artery disease is sudden death. In just seconds, Steve became one of 250,000 Americans who meet this fate each year. In an effort to prevent other families from suffering the tragic loss of a loved one to sudden heart attack, a group of Steve’s friends, family and community members formed The Heart Foundation.

The Heart Foundation Mission

Founded January 1996 by friends and family of Steve Cohen who died in December 1995 of sudden cardiac death, The Heart Foundation is dedicated to increasing awareness of heart disease; supporting the work of P.K. Shah, M.D., Chief of the Division of Cardiology and Atherosclerosis Research Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; and honoring the memory of an incredible husband, father, son, brother and friend. Our goal is to prevent, cure and eradicate this silent killer.

The Steven S. Cohen Humanitarian Award

Steve Cohen wasn’t a celebrity. He wasn’t well known. He wasn’t someone you read about in the pages of a magazine. However, he was famous to those who knew him. Steve Cohen was a wonderful and devoted father and husband, a caring son and brother, a great friend, a talented businessman, and a passionate athlete. He was a genuine individual who lived his daily life with compassion, integrity, and spirit. He endeavored to be the best at whatever lay before him, but mostly, he treasured his time spent with his family and friends doing those activities he loved most. The sudden and tragic loss of Steve Cohen changed the way his friends, family, and community viewed life. Steve Cohen inspired us all to action.

The Steven S. Cohen Humanitarian Award, named for the man whose sudden death transformed a community, has been established to honor individuals who effect change within their communities and demonstrate a commitment to the betterment of humankind. The Heart Foundation believes that these special individuals embody the spirit of Steve Cohen and deserve to be honored with the award that bears his name.

 

Past Recipients:

• Marshall Ezralow
• Norman Brokaw
• Kirk & Anne Douglas
• Berry Gordy