About Us

Our mission is to provide provided financial assistance, family support and advocacy to families with a critically ill child living in Santa Barbara County.

Every family with a critically ill child becomes part of a supportive and caring community.

Carlos Solodkin was born in January 2007. He was born with a major congenital heart defect, pulmonary issues, gastrointestinal issues and DiGeorge syndrome. He spent over 6 months living in Children’s Hospital fighting to stay alive. And with much hope, he was cleared for the heart surgery to save his life. Unfortunately, he died during his heart surgery at just 9 months old due to his compromised lungs.

During that period, my husband and I divided our time staying overnight at or near the hospital while the other stayed with our 2 year-old daughter at our home over an hour away. I met many families that were struggling with similar and more challenging issues. The families were single parents, divorced parents, married parents. Some had other children and for some this was their only child. All suffered the hardship of navigating the care of a critically ill child. Through our experience and many conversations then and throughout the years a common need remains, these families need help with expenses, running errands and understanding complicated healthcare diagnosis and medical bills. They need resources and advocates.

In honor and memory of Carlos, we decided it was time to use his angel wings and help as many families as we can through Hearts Aligned Inc.

-Vivian Solodkin, Founder

Board Of Directors

Vivian Solodkin

Executive Director and Board Chairperson

Brigitte Welty

Vice Chairperson

Colleen Sitolini

Secretary 

Shannon Garton

Treasurer 

Lucy Kohansamad

Board Member

Dee Dee Nussmeier

Board Member

Jonathan Pickert

Board Member

Heather Sherman, PT, DPT, PCS

Board Member

Dedicated Staff

Sandra Padilla

Sr. Case Manager

Maria Silva

Case Manager – North County

Leandra Young-Hernandez

Administrative Assistant

Open Staff Positions

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