Attention! We're looking for new chapters!
Attention! We're looking for new chapters!
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Paper Hearts Initiative is actively seeking new student-led chapters to join our growing network of kindness and service.
We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting volunteers with children in hospitals and residents in senior living communities through handwritten letters of encouragement, hope, and support. Each chapter plays a vital role in helping us expand this mission by organizing letter-writing events, recruiting student volunteers, and coordinating the collection and submission of letters from their school or community.
Starting a chapter is simple and designed to be accessible for students. Chapters receive a clear structure, guidance, and ongoing support to help them successfully run events and make a real impact. All that is required is a group of motivated students, a faculty advisor, and school approval.
Through participation, students not only contribute to meaningful service work but also help bring emotional support to individuals who may be experiencing isolation, illness, or difficult life circumstances. Every letter written through a chapter has the potential to brighten someone’s day and remind them that they are not alone.
If you are interested in bringing Paper Hearts Initiative to your school, we encourage you to apply and become part of a growing movement centered on empathy, connection, and small acts of kindness that make a lasting difference.
Our Mission
Our Mission
Paper Hearts Initiative is a student-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that spreads kindness one letter at a time. Through handwritten messages, artwork, and words of encouragement, our volunteers help brighten the days of children facing medical challenges and seniors who may be experiencing loneliness.
Our Accomplishments
Our Accomplishments
100+
Total letters sent
6
Partner Organizations
3
U.S. states reached
2
Official chapters
50+
Volunteers / members
3
Letter drives (so far)
Our Story
Our Story
Paper Hearts Initiative was founded by Jasmine Jagnandan when she was a sophomore at Notre Dame Prep of SHU. Following the hospitalization of her younger brother and grandmother, she experienced firsthand how isolating and overwhelming medical environments for children and seniors can feel. All she could think about was how something as small as a handwritten letter could have made those days a little less lonely. What started as a personal response to a difficult part of her life has grown into a movement centered on one belief: small acts of kindness can carry people on through their hardest days.
Why Letters?
Why Letters?
A single letter may seem small, but for someone facing a difficult day, it can mean everything.
Research shows that social connection and encouragement can positively impact emotional well-being. A few handwritten words can remind someone that they are seen, valued, and cared for.
How it Works
How it Works
1. Volunteers and chapters create handwritten letters, cards, or artwork.
2. Local chapters gather and review their works before delivery
3. Letters are distributed to hospitals and senior living communities.
4. Recipients receive messages of encouragement, support, and kindness.
Types of Cards
Types of Cards
Purely Handwritten
Artistic Designs
Digital Letters
A Word From Our Founder
A Word From Our Founder
"Paper Hearts Initiative began in my sophomore year of high school, during a time that changed the way I saw connection and care. After my younger brother was hospitalized and my grandmother came close to death, I experienced firsthand how isolating and overwhelming medical environments can feel—not just for patients, but for families too. Even when surrounded by doctors and support, there were moments that felt quiet, distant, and heavy. During that time, I kept thinking about how something as small as a handwritten letter could have made those days feel a little less lonely. A reminder that someone, somewhere, was thinking of you. That idea became Paper Hearts Initiative. What started as a personal response to a difficult chapter in my life has grown into a movement centered on one belief: small acts of kindness can carry people through their hardest days. Today, Paper Hearts Initiative connects volunteers to children in hospitals and seniors in care facilities through handwritten letters of encouragement, hope, and care."
— Jasmine Jagnandan (Founder and Executive Director of Paper Hearts Initiative)
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