HEART's humane education programs seek to instill compassion and respect for each other, animals and the environment and give students the tools to make a positive, long lasting impact on their lives, as well as our community. HEART has specially designed age appropriate in-class instructional programs taught by their own staff of humane education instructors. Humane Education is required by state mandate to be taught in all public elementary schools in New York with a loss of public funding if the law is not adhered to. In reality, few teachers or administrators are even aware of the law and HEART is one of the few organizations providing critical humane education services.

In 2011 there was a continued focus on incorporating service learning into all aspects of the organizations programming including both the in-class program and the after-school and out of school programs. HEART ran their first summer camp in 2011 in partnership with the Hunts Point Alliance for Children. During the year they established a number of partnerships that will result in broadening the reach to serve more youth. They also conducted teacher training and professional development workshops that will serve to leverage their curriculum by teaching others teachers to integrate their lessons in school programs.

The HEART Chicago chapter showed major growth in 2011 and was successful at developing local grassroots support. In late 2011 HEART started a chapter in Indianapolis representing the third expansion city.

HEART was awarded a $50,000 grant from the ASPCA that will be used for growing a number of program both in New York as well as Chicago and Indianapolis.

Please see HEART's web site at www.teachhumane.org.