Caps For Kids was
founded in 1993 by Dr. Stephen Heinrich, a pediatric orthopedic
surgeon at Children's Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana and a
clinical professor at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences
Center. Dr. Heinrich was treating a young man with cancer, who was
also an avid Auburn University fan. He gave Lee a hat autographed by
Auburn University football coach Terry Bowden and his father, Florida
State University football coach, Bobby Bowden. When Dr. Heinrich
realized how happy a simple hat could make someone suffering from a
life-threatening disease, he organized Caps For Kids to improve the
spirits of young cancer patients nationwide.
Dr. Heinrich began to garner autographed hats and
scarves from notable personalities to be given to the children with
cancer that he cared for. Publicity opened new avenues for acquiring
hats and soliciting signatures. Dr. Heinrich was soon able to expand
the program so that all children receiving chemotherapy for cancer at
Childrens Hospital in New Orleans could participate.
Today, Caps For Kids exists at more than 90 hospitals in
the United States including 4 chapters in Canada. The organization is currently run by one full time employee,
one part time staff member and a host of volunteers, all of whom have
other full-time jobs. The Board of Directors and an advisory group
help to drive the organizations growth.
About Our Founder - Dr. Stephen D. Heinrich,
MS, MD
Dr. Stephen Heinrich, founder and
executive director of Caps For Kids is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon
at Children's Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana and a Clinical
Professor at the Louisiana State University Medical Center. Since
1988, he has served on the staff of over nine hospitals, written two
books, published 60 manuscripts, and organized six post-graduate
courses.
In 1993, Dr. Heinrich founded Caps For
Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing caps and scarves
autographed by celebrities to children, adolescents and young adults
suffering from hair loss as a result of various forms of cancer
treatment. Under the direction of Dr. Heinrich, Caps For
Kids has expanded to an international reach enlisting the support of
hundreds of volunteers at its 96 locations.
After graduating with a B.S. in Biology
from the Virginia Military Institute in 1977, Dr. Heinrich earned a
Master of Science from the University of Arizona in 1979. Upon
receiving a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1983, from the University of
Arizona, he moved back to Virginia where he completed an internship and
residency before landing a fellowship at the Children's Hospital in
Louisiana State University Medical Center.
Dr. Heinrich resides in New Orleans with
his wife Helena. He has four children, Beth, Stephen, Ryan and Emily.
About Caps For Kids... 
